THE EARLY CHAMPERNOUNS

This installment presents the earliest generations of the family that are
presently known. The format follows the previous three installments of the
Champernouns of Modbury, Ilfracombe and North Tawton. Any disagreement with the
content is welcome. As before, the most prevalent forms of individual names
have been used here.

GENERATION 1

1. JORDAN de CHAMBERNUN. Seigneur de Cambernon and Maisoncelles in
Normandy, France. In 1146 Jordan de Campo Ernulfi was first witness of a
confirming charter of Henry de Tracy, then Baron of Barnstaple to the Priory of
St. Mary Magdalene, Barnstaple, Devonshire. He appears to have died by 1166,
when his sons Jordan and Henry were in possession of his lands.
He married, as her first husband, Mabel, daughter of Robert, son of
Robert, Earl of Gloucester, and Hawise, daughter of Baldwin de Redvers, 1st
Earl of Devon. Mabel married 2ndly, William de Soliers. As Mabel de Soliers,
she confirmed in c1193-1204 a gift charter of the manors of Fleet and Ibberton,
Dorsetshire from her mother, Hawise, to her son, Richard de Chambernun.
(Charters of the Redvers Family, 11, 146; DCNQ, 18: 3-7, 81-84, 108-112,
319-320)
Children:

2. Jordan de Chambernun, m. Emma de Soligny.
3. Richard de Chambernun.
4. Henry de Chambernun, m. Rose de Tracy.

That Robert, a little known son of the Earl of Gloucester was even married, is
revealed in a charter dated between June 1141 and 1161, probably before Oct
1147, in which Hawise, daughter of Earl Baldwin de Redvers, made a gift to
Quarr Abbey jointly with her husband, Robert, son of the Earl of Gloucester.
CP, 5: 686 states Robert was a natural son of Earl Robert and that he was named
c1160 in a charter and is addressed in a writ from King Henry II as Castellan
of Gloucester.

GENERATION 2

2. JORDAN de CHAMBERNUN. He predeceased his mother and was buried at
Christchurch Priory before 1214. In the Scutage Return of 1166 he was holding
the old Cambernon fief in Normandy and 7 knights' fees in the Honour of
Gloucester in England, including 2 knights' fees in Umberleia (Umberleigh) and
Becintone (High Bickington). In 1189 he confirmed his brother Richard's gifts
(Cal. Doc. France, I. no. 563). In 1190 he was lord of 16 knights' fees "in
Devon and Cornwall" (Red Book of the Exchequer, p. 607).
He was married to Emma de Soligny, named in a IPM of 1302 (CIPM, 4, no.
82) wherein she is called Emma de Sulenny, sister and heiress of Geoffrey de
Sulenny (who died 1265/6) and mother of Oliver de Campo Arnulphi. (Although
the IPM calls her son Oliver, there is little doubt he is identical with
William.)
Children:

5. William de Chambernoun, m. Eva de Whitchurch.

3. RICHARD de CHAMBERNUN. In 1189 he gave the Church of St. Cornier to the
Canons of Yvrande (Cal. Doc. France, I, no. 562). In 1193-1214, he confirmed
the gift of his grandmother, Hawise de Redvers, to his brother of the manors of
Fleet and Ibberton, Dorsetshire (Charters of the Redvers Family, p. 146).

4. HENRY de CHAMBERNUN. Henry is named as brother of Jordan de Chambernun in
the Cartulary of Montebourg. In 1166 he was in possession of the family
estates under the Honours of Barnstaple and Okehampton. He was lord of 1 fee
under the Honour of Gloucester in 1201-1212 (Red Book of the Exchequer, p. 154)
and in 1211-1212 (Red Book, p. 607). Henry appears to have died in 1211 or
1212, for Rose de Campo Ernulfi is also shown as holding 1 fee--probably the
same--under Gloucester in 1210-1212 (Red Book, p. 559).
He was married to Rose (or Rohese), living 1237, apparently daughter and
heiress of Sir William de Tracy. Rose married 2ndly Robert de Sechevill (or
Sacchville), died c1218, of Braunton, Cowley, Dunsford & Rewe, Devonshire.
Rose was heiress to Clistwick, Devonshire (later Clist St. George or Clist
Champernowne), this manor being previously the maritagium of Sir William de
Tracy's wife. In 1237 Rose was holding as dower from her late husband the
manor of Rewe (Book of Fees, p. 612).
Children:

6. Oliver de Campo Ernulfi (Ernulphi), m. Wymarca.
See Champernoun of Ilfracombe.

GENERATION 3

5. WILLIAM de CHAMBERNOUN. Born c1203. In 1224, when he had come of age, he
disputed the gift of his great-grandmother, Hawise de Redvers, of the manor of
Fleet, claiming the manor had earlier been given to his father (Charters of the
Redvers Family, p. 149). In April 1229 he was involved in a dispute with the
Abbot of Tewkesbury (Cal. Patent Rolls, 1225-32, p. 288 and Curia Regis Rolls,
1227-1230, p. 514).
He married Eva, daughter of Rainald de Whitchurch, of Shrivenham,
Berkshire. On 21 Aug 1249, Geoffrey de Grandi Monte was granted all land in
Beseby, in the soke of Wautham, and with the dower of Eva de Chambernun
there if she should die in this time (Cal. Patent Rolls, 1247-58, p. 46).
Children:
7. Joan de Champernon (Campo Arnulphi), m. Sir Ralph de Willington.

GENERATION 4

7. JOAN de CHAMPERNON (CAMPO ARNULPHI). Founded a chantry at Umberleigh in
the reign of Henry III to pray for the soul of her father William de Campo
Arnulphi, with the souls of her mother and Ralph de Willington, her husband
(Monasticon, p. 481). As Joan de Campo Arnulfi she presented to St. Gwinear,
co. Cornwall in Jan 1260/1 (Bronescombe, p. 172). As Dame Joan de Champernon
she presented to Huntshaw in Sept 1277 (Bronescombe, p. 145). As Joan de Campo
Arnulfi, Lady of Beaford, she presented to Beaford in July 1278 (Bronescombe,
p. 113). As Dame Joan de Chambernun she presented to High Bickington in March
1277/8 and July 1283 (Bronescombe, p. 144, 346). She was still living 1284-6
(CP, 12(2): 645). She married before 17 July 1238 to Sir Ralph de Willington.
Sheriff of Devonshire 1254-1255. He died between April 1255 and July 1260
(CP, 12(2): 645).

As sole heiress of her father, the Champernoun manors of St. Gwinear, Huntshaw,
Beaford and High Bickington passed into possession of the Willingtons.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Book of Fees: Commonly Called Testa de Nevill, 2 vols. in 3. Public Record
Office, 1920-1931.

Bronescombe. Hingeston-Randolph, F. C. The Registers of Walter Bronescombe
(A.D. 1257-1280) and Peter Quivil (A.D. 1280-1291), Bishops of Exeter, with
some records of the Episcopate of Bishop Thomas de Bytton (A.D. 1292-1307).
Exeter Episcopal Registers, vol. 1. London: George Bell & Sons, 1889)

Charters of the Redvers Family. Bearman, Robert. Charters of the Redvers
Family and the Earldom of Devon, 1090-1217. Devon and Cornwall Record Society,
New Series, Vo. 37, 1994.

CIPM. Calendars of Inquisition Post Mortem.

DCNQ. Devon and Cornwall Notes and Queries.

Oliver, George. Monasticon Dioecesis Eroniensis. Exeter, 1846.

Ronny Bodine
RBodi...@aol.com