Adeliza FitzOsulf du Plessis, Heiress of Belvoir

The daughter of Osulf le Freyne du Plessis and sister of Grimault du Plessis, Adeliza married first, William (Guillaume) d'Aubigny, of Saint-Martin-d'Aubigné (son of Neel Saint-Saveur, Vicomte de Cotentin/Coutances), and secondly, Robert I de Tosny/Todeni.

Children:

--Roger "Pincerna" d'Aubigny who married Amice de Mowbray

--Nigel/Nele d'Aubigny of Cainhoe who married Amice de Ferrers

--Richard d'Aubigny, Abbot of St. Alban

--William (Guillaume) de Tosny, Lord of Belvoir

--Geoffrey de Tosny

--Robert de Tosny

--Agnes de Tosny who married Hubert de Rye.

--Adeliza de Tosny who married Roger Bigod (two of her daughters married men named William d'Aubigny).

--Albrede m. de l'Isle

[--Berenger de Tosny ? Not listed in FMG database]

As heiress of the honour of Belvoir, Adeliza FitzOsulf de Plessis was instrumental in passing this title and its land down through her family, ironically not through her d'Aubigny children and heirs (who became Earls of Arundel) but through her de Tosny heirs who married into the Bigod family who married into the *other* d'Aubigny family which later became Earls of Belvoir.

[See "The Early Lords of Belvoir" by WA Carrington, Esq (1900) printed in The Journal of the British Archaeological Association, Volume 7, available online on Google Books: p. 299]

Summary: Belvoir was held before Domesday by William de Albini, son of Niel of St Saveur (Vicomte of Cotentin, Lord of the Isles of La Marche), by right of his wife Adeliza, dau of Osulf son of Fane in the time of Edward the Confessor. [Note: This was most likely Osulf II who was High Reeve or Ealdorman of Bamburgh in Northumberland until 1041 when Northumberland was reunified and who died in 1067]

Her second marriage was to Robert de Todeni who built the Castle of Belvoir and the St. Mary's Priory (1077) there. By Domesday, de Todeni held 80 manors in 13 counties, most of them in Lincoln and Leicester, and six of which had been held by Oself (his father in law).

Adeliza died before Robert, who died in 1088 and was buried at St. Mary's Priory in Belvoir.

According to Dugdale, Robert and Adeliza de Todeni had four sons: William, Berenger, Geoffrey and Robert, and a dau Agnes who married Hubert de Rye. Another source says they had a daughter Adeliza who married Roger Bigod.

Robert de Todeni was succeeded by his second son William as Lord of Belvoir. Then, interestingly, it was passed to William de Albini Brito, son of Adeliza by her first marriage.

It was afterwards held by Adeliza de Toeni wife of Roger Bigod. It appears from the Pipe Roll in the time of Henry I that Adeliza de Todeni/Bigod paid Henry I 200 marks for the Lordship of Belvoir (the inheritance of the Albinis).

Then, to add to the soap opera, Cecilia Bigod (daughter of Adeliza de Todeni and Roger Bigod) married William de Albini son of Roger son of William de Albini Brito (Adeliza I's son by her first marriage). Thus Belvoir stayed in the family either way.

NOTE: I use the French term héritière in the title to indicate that she was the inheritor or heiress of this land and title in her own right. I often do this when a woman brings her own inheritance of land and title into the marriage (called in sui generis in legal terms), to indicate that she inherited in her own right and did not just acquire a title by marriage. In the middle ages, many women were the carriers of important inheritances and therefore their marriages, often arranged by powerful men like trading cards, brought the men who "acquired" them great power and wealth.

http://fmg.ac/Projects/MedLands/ENGLISHNOBILITYMEDIEVAL3.htm

GUILLAUME d'Aubigny, son of ---. 1056. Seigneur d'Aubigny.

m (before 1048) ---, sister of GRIMAULT de Plessis, daughter of ---. The primary source which confirms her marriage has not yet been identified.

Guillaume & his wife had three children:

1. ROGER d'Aubigny . The primary source which confirms his parentage has not yet been identified. "…Rogerii de Albiniaco, filiique sui Rualoc…" are named as witnesses at the court of William I King of England in the charter dated to [1081] which records an agreement between the monks of Marmoutier and "Gaufridus Nervei filius"[1]. m AMICE, daughter of ---. Henry I King of England confirmed donations of property to the abbey of Holy Trinity, Lessay by "Roger de Albineio and Amicia his wife with the consent of their sons William and Nigel" by charter dated 1126[2]. “Wilielmus comes Sussexiæ” confirmed donations to Boxgrove Priory by his predecessors “Rogerus de Albineio, et Willelmus Pincerna…et Willielmi patris mei filii reginæ Aeliz, et Matildis matris meæ” to Boxgrove Priory by undated charter, which names “domina Avicia, uxor Rogeri de Albineio…et filiorum suorum Willielmi et Nigelli”[3].

2. NELE [Nigel] d'Aubigny of Cainhoe (-[1100]). The primary source which confirms his parentage has not yet been identified. m AMICE de Ferrers, daughter of HENRY de Ferrers & his wife Bertha ---. “Robertus comes junior de Ferariis” confirmed donations to Tutbury by “avus meus Henricus…Egenulfus patruus meus…Robertus pater meus”, naming “Nigellus de Albiniaco et Amicia filia avi mei”[35].

3. RICHARD . “Nigellus de Albeneyo” donated property to “domino Richardo fratri meo abbati de S. Albano” by undated charter dated to the reign of William I King of England[51]. Abbot of St Alban.

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Of the wife of Robert de Tosny, FMG provides this account:

ROBERT [I] de Tosny (-1088). Europäische Stammtafeln shows Robert de Tosny unaffiliated with the other members of this family. Although his ancestry is unknown, it is likely that he was a member of this family. He founded Marmoutier in 1063[1926]. Lord of Belvoir 1086. “Robertum de Belvedeir---et A[dela]. uxor eius” founded Belvoir priory, Lincolnshire by charter dated to [1076][1927]. After the death of his wife Adela, Robert de Belvoir donated “land in Sapertune” to Belvoir priory, Lincolnshire, with the consent of "his sons William and Geoffrey"[1928]. m ADELAIS, daughter of --- (-before 1088). “Robertum de Belvedeir---et A[dela]. uxor eius” founded Belvoir priory, Lincolnshire by charter dated to [1076][1929]. “Agnes de Toteneio” confirmed the donation to Belvoir priory, Lincolnshire by "pater meus Robertus de Toteneio et mater mea Adelais", by undated charter[1930]. Robert & his wife had [six] children:

a) GUILLAUME (-[1130]). After the death of his wife Adela, Robert de Belvoir donated “land in Sapertune” to Belvoir priory, Lincolnshire, with the consent of "his sons William and Geoffrey"[1931]. Lord of Belvoir.

b) GEOFFREY . After the death of his wife Adela, Robert de Belvoir donated “land in Sapertune” to Belvoir priory, Lincolnshire, with the consent of "his sons William and Geoffrey"[1932].

c) [ROBERT de Tosny . “Robertus de Toteneia” donated property to Belvoir priory, Lincolnshire, confirmed by "Willielmus de Albeneio frater meus et dominus", by undated charter, witnessed by "…Rogerus Bigot"[1933]. The identity of this Robert de Tosny is uncertain. The document cannot be contemporary as William de Albini was heir of Belvoir through his maternal grandmother Alice, who was the sister of this supposed Robert, so could not have been Robert de Tosny´s brother.]

d) ALICE . Her parentage is indicated by the 1130 Pipe Roll which records "Adeliz uxor Rogi Big…tra patris sui de Belueder" in Lincolnshire[1934]. It is also indicated by the charter dated 23 Apr [1430] under which her descendant “Thomas dominus de Ros, de Hamelake, de Trussebout et de Beavoir” confirmed the possessions of Belvoir priory, Lincolnshire made by "antecessores nostros…Robertum de Toteneio, Willielmum de Toteneyo filium suum, Agnetem de Toteneio filiam dicti Roberti de Toteneyo, Henricum de Rya filium Huberto de Rya, Agnetem de Toteneyo, Willielmum de Albeneio primum, Willielmum de Albeneio secundum, Willielmum de Albeneio tertium, Willielmum de Albeneio quartum, Ywynum de Albeneyo, Heliam de Albeneyo et uxores eorundem, Isabellam filiam domini Willielmi de Albeneio quæ fuit uxor domini de Ros, domini de Beauvoire et de Hamelake"[1935], the connection between Robert de Tosny Lord of Belvoir, father of Alice, being established through the marriage of her daughter Cecilia to William de Albini Brito. "Rogerius Bigot…et uxoris mee Adalicie" donated the church of Thetford to Cluny dated [1100][1936]. “Rogerus Bygot” founded Thetford Priory, with the advice of “…uxoris meæ Adeliciæ”, by undated charter dated to the reign of King Henry I[1937]. Living in 1136[1938]. m (before [1100]%29 as his second wife, ROGER Bigod, son of ROGER Bigod & his wife --- (-8 or 15 Sep 1107, bur Thetford[1939]).

e) AGNES de Tosny (-before 1127). “Agnes de Toteneio” confirmed the donation to Belvoir priory, Lincolnshire by "pater meus Robertus de Toteneio et mater mea Adelais", by undated charter[1940]. Henry I King of England confirmed the donation of "decimas de Hokeringhe, de Swanetuna, de Depham, de Bukestuna, de Mercheshale" by "Hubertus de Ria…Agnes de Belfo uxor eius…cum Ricardo filio suo" to Holy Trinity, Norwich, at the request of "Henrici filii et heredis ipsorum", by charter dated to [1127][1941]. Her second marriage is confirmed by the undated charter under which her son “Henricus de Rya” confirmed the donations to Belvoir priory, Lincolnshire by "Roberti avi mei et Agnetis matris meæ"[1942]. m firstly RALPH de Belfou, son of ---. m secondly HUBERT de Rie, son of HUBERT de Rie & his wife --- (-before 1127).

f) [ALBREDE . “H comes Norfulc” confirmed property to the monks of Kirkstall, for the soul of “Albrede de Insula amite mee”, by charter dated to [1154/76][1943]. If amita is translated strictly in this document, Albrede was the sister of Earl Hugh´s mother. However, it cannot be excluded that she was in fact his paternal aunt. m --- de l´Isle, son of ---.]

http://www.freewebs.com/stanhopefamily/THE FAMILY OF FRESNE

Adeliza du Plessis was the sister of Grimoult du Plessis, who lost his estates, situated mainly in Coutances, after siding against William the Bastard at Val des Dunes. The name Plessis was of topographical origin, signifying [O.F] a pallisade, and [Lat.] an enclosure, referring to the castle held by the family at Plessis-Grimoult. [The Priory of Plessis-Grimoult was endowed by the Beaumont/Harcourt family; almost invariably a sign that there was a familial connection between them and the founder's family - Mem. Soc. Ant. Norm., vol ii., 23, no. 238.] The original name of the family was Fresne, or, more anciently, Freyne, signifying an ash tree, a derivative of which is the surname Frame. [ G. F. Black, Surnames of Scotland; Their Origin, Meaning, and History, p. 278, 1946.] The father of Adeliza and Grimoult was titled Osulf le Fresne. Their holdings in Coutances abutted those of the family of the wife of the aforementioned Onfroi de Vieilles, who, as said, was of the family of Haye/Haie; of Haye-du-Puits, Manche, arr. Coutances. [The lord of this barony, at the date of the conquest, was Raoul, sénéchal of the Earl of Mortaigne, and father of Robert de la Haie, a contemporary of Henry I. Raoul seems to have been the son of Hubert de Rye, to whom was entrusted the governorship of the castle and county of Nottingham, and who is frequently mentioned in Domesday Book.] In the Battle of Beaumont-le-Roger, in 1036, Onfroi de Vieilles fought against Roger de Toeni, and his close ally, Osulf du Fresne. Such military and political alliance usually stemmed from familial and consequent topographical connections. Later acts of the Abbey of Conches support this notion, with this Fresne family being noted as feudatories of the Anglo-Norman Toeni family, holding of them land centred around Mesnil-Hardray, canton Conches. In the same regard, Grimoult du Plessis was lord of le Freyne,

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Source http://a.decarne.free.fr/gencar/dat566.htm

Plessis (du), "Adele" or Adéliza lady Belvoir Gender: Female

Naissance : vers 1027 Birth: about 1027

Note Note

Parents : Parents:

Père: Plessis (du), "Osulf" Fil Frame seigneur de Belvoir Father: Plessis (du), "Osulf" Wire Frame lord of Belvoir

Famille: Family

Mariage: 1043 Marriage: 1043

Conjoint: Spouse:

Aubigny (d'), Guillaume seigneur des Iles Sexe: Masculin Aubigny (of), Guillaume Lord of the Isles Gender: Male

Naissance : vers 1020 à Aubigny (14) Birth: about 1020 in Aubigny (14)

Décès : 1066 Died: 1066

Parents : Parents:

Père: Saint Sauveur (de), Néel vicomte de Cotentin Father: St. Saviour (de), Neel Viscount of Cotentin

Mère: Eu (d'), Adèle Mother: Eu (with), Adèle

Enfant(s) : Child (s):

Aubigny (d'), Roger Aubigny (of), Roger

Famille: Family

Mariage: 1067 Marriage: 1067

Conjoint: Spouse:

Toeny (de), Robert seigneur de Belvoir Sexe: Masculin Toeny (de), Robert Lord of Belvoir Gender: Male

Naissance : vers 1030 à Belvoir Leicestershire (UK) Birth: about 1030 in Belvoir, Leicestershire (UK)

Décès : 04 août 1088 Died: August 4, 1088

La filiation avec ses parents est controversée. The affiliation with its parents is controversial.

Parents : Parents:

Père: Toeny (de), Robert seigneur de Conches Father: Toeny (de), Robert Lord of Conches

Enfant(s) : Child (s):

Toeny (de), Alice dame de Belvoir Toeny (of), Lady Alice Belvoir

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Source http://worldconnect.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=AHN&db...

32. WILLIAM I (NOTES) CONTINTIN (L) DE AUBIGNY was born BET 1000 AND 1024 in AUBIGNI OR AUGBIGNY, NORMANDY, FRANCE, and died BET 1019 AND 1068. He was the son of 64. NIEL III NIGEL II (NOTES) (L) DE SAINT SAVEUR and 65. ADELA (NOTES) DE BRIONNE OR (L) D' EU.

33. ADELE (NOTES) DE PLESSIS (L) DE BELVOIR was born BET 1014 AND 1025 in PLESSIS, NORMANDY, FRANCE, and died 1051. She was the daughter of 66. GRIMOLT GRIMOULT OR GRIMOULD (L) DE PLESSIS and 67. VAL (L) DE DUNES.

Children of ADELE (NOTES) DE PLESSIS (L) DE BELVOIR and WILLIAM I (NOTES) CONTINTIN (L) DE AUBIGNY are:    i. BALDWIN (NOTE) AUBIGNY MONTGOMERY (L) DE BOULERS was born BET 1050 AND 1080 in HAWORTH CASTLE, YORKSHIRE, ENGLAND. He married SIBYLLA (NOTES) FITZHENRY (L) DE NORMANDY, daughter of HENRY I GUNDRED "BEAUCLERC" KING OF (L) ENGLAND and SIBYL SYBILLA ADELA OR LUCY (NOTES) (L) CORBET. She was born BET 1075 AND 1104 in DOMFRONT, NORMANDY, FRANCE, and died BET 12 AND 13 JUL 1122 in ISLAND OF THE WOMAN, LOCK TAY, SCOTLAND. He married SIBYL (NOTES) (L) DE FALAISE, daughter of WILLIAM (NOTES) FITZROBERT (L) DE FALAISE and GEVA (L) DE BURCI. She was born BET 1074 AND 1088 in WORSPRING MANOR, SOMERSET, ENGLAND.  

16. ii. ROGER D' AUBIGNY OR DE AUBIGNY OR (L) DE ALBINI was born BET 1036 AND 1055 in AUBIGNI OR AUBIGNY, NORMANDY, FRANCE, and died ABT 1084. He married CICELY (NOTES) CAIGNE (L) DE PORT. She was born ABT 1045. He married AMICIA AMICE (NOTES) DE MOWBRAY (L) D' AUBIGNY, daughter of GEOFFREY OR ROGER DE MONTBRAI (L) DE MOWBRAY. She was born BET 1040 AND 1055 in AUBIGNI OR AUBIGNY, NORMANDY, FRANCE, and died 1100. He married AMICE OR HALEWISE (NOTES) (L) GRENTMESNIL, daughter of HUGH (NOTE) SENESCHAL ENGLAND(L) DE GRENTEMESNIL and ADELIZA BEATRICE ALICE (NOTES) (L) DE BEAUMONT. She was born BET 1045 AND 1058, and died BET 1077 AND 1084.

   iii. AIMEE (L) D' AUBIGNY OR DE ALBINI was born ABT 1050 in ST. MARTIN D' AUBIGNY, NORMANDY, FRANCE. She married RICHARD (L) DE TALBOT TALEBOT OR TALBOT, son of RICHARD OR LE SIRE (NOTES) (L) TALBOT OR TALEBOT. He was born BET 1050 AND 1055 in BADLESLANE, BEDFORDSHIRE, ENGLAND, and died 1129.  

iv. WILLIAM II (L) BRITO D' AUBIGNY was born ABT 1034.
v. 0LIVA (NOTE)(L) DE AUBIGNY D' AUBIGNY D' ALBINI was born BET 1047 AND 1141 in AUBIGNI OR AUBIGNY, NORMANDY, FRANCE. She married RALPH OR RANULF (L) DE HAYA OR DE LA HAYE, son of RICHARD THURSTIN HALDUP (NOTES) (L) DE LA HAYE and ANNE (L) ?. He was born BET 1043 AND 1139, and died AFT 1123.
vi. MISS (L) DE AUBIGNY D' AUBIGNY HEIRESS STREATLEY was born BET 1050 AND 1066. She married PIROT OF (L) HAWKWELL GLEMAM SAWSTON. He was born BET 1050 AND 1066, and died AFT 1104.

Adeliza Belvoir DU PLESSIS

   * Father: Grimoult DU PLESSIS

* Mother: Mitilda DE NORMANDY
* Birth: 1020, France
* Partnership with: William Seigneur DE AUBIGNY
o Child: Roger DE AUBIGNY Birth: 1045, Normandy, France
Ancestors of Adeliza Belvoir DU PLESSIS

       /-Grimoult DU PLESSIS

Adeliza Belvoir DU PLESSIS

       \-Mitilda DE NORMANDY

Descendants of Adeliza Belvoir DU PLESSIS

1 Adeliza Belvoir DU PLESSIS

 =William Seigneur DE AUBIGNY

2 Roger DE AUBIGNY
=Adelina DE GRANDMESNIL
3 Nigel DE AUBIGNY
=Gundred DE GOURNAY
3 William DE AUBIGNY
=Maude BIGOT