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Feudal England

Note 3 — PART II HISTORICAL STUDIES (continued 2)

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Of the barons most are familiar. Richard fitz Baldwin was the son and successor of the famous Baldwin of Exeter, and was, like him, sheriff of Devon (see p. 236239). Baldwin de Redvers was the son of Richard de Redvers, and became subsequently first earl of Devon (the confusion of these two families, from the similarity of name, seems to be incorrigible).3 The lords of the great honours of Barnstaple and Totnes4 are followed by Robert of Bampton, who had succeeded to the Domesday fief of Walter de Douai, and who, as I have shown (English Historical Review, v. 746), was afterwards a rebel against Stephen. Goislin de Pomerey was the heir of Ralf de Pomerey, the Domesday baron; and Reginald (Rainaldus) de Vautort was a great under-tenant of the honour of Mortain. William fitz Richard I identify with that great Cornish magnate, whose daughter and heiress carried his fief to Reginald, afterwards Earl of Cornwall. Herbert de Alneto also was a Cornish baron, father of that Richard who, in 1130, paid £100 for his succession (Rot. Pip., 31 Henry I, p. 158). Specially interesting, however, is the name of William fitz Odo, in whom I detect not the William fitz Otho, of Essex and Middlesex (with whom he is confused in the Index to the 1130 Pipe-Roll), but the son of 'Odo filius Gamelin'; a Devonshire tenant-in-chief (D.B., i. 116b). I see him in that '—filius Odonis', who is entered on the damaged Devonshire roll (Rot. Pip., 31 Henry I, p. 157) in connection with thirty-four shillings, which proves that he held a considerable estate. The fief of 'Odo filius Gamelin' was assessed at 21-3/16 hides, representing in Devon large estates.5

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