Notes |
- From Complete Peerage IX:267-8:
Ralph de Mortimer, son and heir [of Roger by Hawise], succeeded his father before 1086, when he appears in Domesday Book as tenant in chief in twelve counties. His possessions lay largely in Herefordshire and Shropshire, Wigmore in the former county being the caput of the honour. Both Wigmore and Cleobury, in Shropshire, had belonged to William FitzOsbern, Earl of Hereford, and the grant must therefore have been later than the forfeiture of William's son Roger in 1074. He attested a notification by William I between 1078 and 1087. On 30 March 1088 he witnessed a grant made by his man Ralph FitzAnsere to the abbey of Jumieges. In that year he, Bernard de Neufmarche, and Roger de Lacy, at the head of a large body of English, Norman and Welsh fighting men, attacked Worcester with the avowed intention of burning the town and pillaging the church. The Bishop's men marched out and defeated them on the other side of the Severn. In 1089 he was one of the barons of Eastern Normandy who sided with William Rufus against Robert Curthose, but between 1091 and 1095 he is found (at Lisieux) witnessing with Duke Robert a charter for Jumieges. He made a grant to the monks of Worcester with the assent of his sons (unnamed) and his men. In 1104. he adhered to Henry I against Duke Robert. This is the last mention found of him, and the date of death is unknown. He married, 1stly, Melisande, who was dead before 30 March 1088, and, 2ndly, Mabel. (g)
(g) Stephen, Count of Aumale, by a charter circa 1100, with the consent of Hawise his wife and of Ralph de Mortimer her father, granted the church of Airaines (Somme) of the inheritance of Ralph and Hawise to the priory of Saint-Martin-des-Champs, Paris, mentioning Melisande, Ralph's deceased wife. The charter of 30 Mar 1088 referred to above is subscribed 'Signum Radulfi Filii Rogeri Morte maris Signum Mabilie uxoris eius'. Hawise was clearly the daughter of Melisande; and as she must have been born before 1088, Melisande would be Ralph's first wife. William, brother of Hugh, witnesses his charter for Saint-Victor, but he occurs low in the list of witnesses and was probably illegitimate. There is no evidence as to which wife was mother of Hugh.
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