Belchamp Walter - Conquest to Wentworth
1066 - 1535
The history of Belchamp Walter over this period is not well documented.
It is well known that the area was "assigned" to Aubrey de Vere, as Tenent in Chief, for the lands that were known in Domesday as Thunderlow. However, the notion that the area remained "owned" by the de Veres until it "came" to Sir John Wentworth is not only a gross over-simplification the concept of "ownership" was not really applicable to this period of English history.
As a consequence of the inter-marriage of a number of influential families over this period the "control" of the area is associated with many names. In addition, as with many other hereditary lines, the passing of the association was not linear and there were divisions due to the exisitance of co-heirs.
In keeping with many other regions, Essex and East Anglia in general were a valuable "possesion". The assignment of the land was also infuenced with the concept of an Advowson, where the lands and religious administration was determined along with Knights Fee
The story of this part of the regions history starts in the 11th century and I attempt to chronical it on this page up to the 15th century.
Aubrey de Vere
I have changed the timing to 10 seconds
The image above is centred in the w3-half div.
Without another div this means everything is centered here
2 Aubrey de Vere
1066 - 1086
Aubrey de Vere was the "Tenent in Chief for Thunderslow - now Belchamp Walter.
Aubrey de Vere is not found on the list of those assisting William the Conqueror in his conquest of England in 1066 but his family name and its association with the region is not in question.
The family name of de Beauchamp is associated with the Conqueror or at least his son Henry as Walter de Beauchamp was one of "Henry's New Men".
3 Geofrey de Mandeville.
1100 - 1144
Geofrey de Mandeville married Aubrey de Vere's daughter Rohse.
Roshe (de Vere) - Geofrey de Mandeville was her first husband then she married William de Beauchamp after Geofrey died in 1144.
King Stephen was king of England at this time and the events surrounding the White Ship Disaster
Geofrey de Mandeville
d. 1144
4 Geofrey de Mandeville/William de Beauchamp.
1144 - 1186
Geofrey de Mandeville married Aubrey de Vere's daughter Rohse.
Roshe (de Vere) Geofrey de Mandeville was her first husband she also married Payne de Beauchamp son of William de Beauchamp??
5 Payne de Beauchamp
1164 - 1281
Roshe (de Vere) Geofrey de Mandeville was her first husband married Payne de Beauchamp was her second husband.
Payne de Beauchamp was the father of Simon de Beauchamp and grandfather of William de Beauchamp (1185 - 1236)
Geofrey died in 1144 so Payne de Beauchamp was probably 20-30 years old. Simon served under King Stephen (reigned 1135-1154) [Beford castle was ordered demolished].
The "ownership" of Belchamp Walter lands was a consequence of the marriage to Roshe de Vere (de Mandeville), this was then passed down through Simon and William.
Simon and William de Beauchamp's offspring married into many families, some of which were local to this area. These include Roger de Mowbray (Isabel de Steyngrave (de Tey by second marriage, the first marriage was to Simon de Patesull),
Walter de Beauchamp was an earlier de Beauchamp, one of "Henry I's Men", possibly Williams grandfather or great......
William de Beauchamp
6 Roger de Mowbray
1254 - 1280
My research is a little unclear due to the lack of information on de Steyngrave
Roger de Mowbray first married Isabell de Steyngrave and then Walter de Tey
Isabell de Steyngrave (nee Wake) was the daughter of Baldwin Wake and Ida (Longspee????)
The Ida Longspee connection is possibly in doubt. The Wikipedia page on William Longspee states that he was an illegitimate son of Henry II (around 1153). The Wikipedia page also mentions that Ida Longspee married William de Beachamp.
I can't find that much about Walter de Tey with respect to Belchamp Walter, which leads me to question the "Walter" in the village name from that source.
The Wake - Longspee connection
This came from the account of Thomas Wright. The history of Belchamp Walter has to have a mention here.
The de Beauchamp name is featured here and confirms the connection to the area.
7 de Beauchamp/Montchensey
1280 - 1286
William de Beauchamp had 3 daughters, Maud, Beatrix and Ella. As he had no male heir the Belchamp estate was split between the daughters.
Maud married Roger de Mowbray.
Beatrix, daughter of William de Beauchamp, first married Thomas Fitz-Otho and then when Thoams died William Montchensey of Edwardstone.
Ella married Baldwin Wake
Baldwin Wake's daughter Ida married John de Steyngreve (alternative spellings; Stonegrave, Stonegreve, Stynegrave or Stynegreve)
8 Fitz-Otho
1325
Thomas Fitz-Otho was the first husband of Beatrix de Beauchamp.
Their daughter Maud married Sir John Botetourt.
9 Botetourt
1265 - 1330s
Thomas Fitz-Otho was the first husband of Beatrix de Beauchamp.
Their daughter Maud married Sir John Botetourt.
These are the two main coats of arms that you see on the chantry chapel in St. Mary's Church.
10 Swynbourne/Botetourt
1330s - 1391 - 1412
Sir Robert Swynboune was from Little Horksley (not far from Nayland off the Sudbury to Colchester road).
William Fynderne (1412 - 1430's) is also mentioned by Thomas Wright.
John_Helion (1410 - 1449) is also on the Swynborne Family tree.
11 Gernon/Helion
1384 - 1400 - 14??
Phillipa Gernon was the daughter and heir of Sir Raufe Gernon. She married William Swynboune.
Their son Sir Robert Swynborne of Little Horksley married Johanna Botetourt the daughter and heir of Sir John Botetourt.
The Gernon coat of arms
12 Rolfe/Tyrell/Wentworth
14?? - 1539
Thomas Rolfe - pre 1450
Humphrey Tyrrell - around 1400
The Wentworths - Sir Roger Wentworth "aquired" Belchamp Walter manor in 1539.
James Tyrrell is mentioned by Shakespere in Richard III as being recruited to murder the "Princes in the tower".
The Sheriff of Belchamp Walter
The title of High Sheriff of Essex and the "ownership" by John and Roger Wentworth is further expanded by the Harris family of Creeksea and Shenfield.
James I - King of England - 1603
James became King after Elizabeth I's death.
Notes
In an attempt to make the website more appealing to the casual visitor this page will hopefully provide visual navigation to the various parts of the site.
In the development of this page I have started with the work on carousel slideshows and carousel menus.
I started off with the expansion of slideshows for the various sections.
This page will have "regular" hyperlinks to the relevant pages.
At first I thought that I would have to have seperate code for a mobile page by the 75% looks good on both.
The link images are at the moment based on the pags that they are linked to. This can be modified as time goes on. For example, the local page can be an image from the village slideshow.