Chapter 3: The Anglo-Norman Bissets

The progression of the Bissets went Normandy, England, and Scotland and Ireland so it seems logical to follow that same order in telling the Bisset story.

Whether or not the Bissets came from the Côte d' Or and were originally Bugundian or whether they always originated in Normandy is largely incidental as the known facts concerning the family start with their increasing prominence in Normandy.

There would have been nothing extraordinary had they indeed made a move from the Côte d' Or to Normandy; movement of clerics, knights, and merchants at these times was far more fluid than we have generally been led to believe. The creed of knightly conduct and its structures were quite easily transferable within the realms of Christendom.

Normandy in the 11th Century was a region in ferment, what would later be recognised as the Norman Empire was a melting pot. Ideas on Architecture, Law, Warfare the future relationship between the church and the rest of society, the role of ruler and state were all in embryonic state and although this would not necessarily have been clear to everybody, what was becoming clear in Europe was that the Normans were going to be a force to reckon with. Normandy would have been seen as a good place to be, offering many opportunities for advancement and wealth.

The first Bissets that we can begin to identify are Henry Visa or Bisa and his wife Bertha presumed to be the parents of William Bisa and Hawise his wife. They are recorded as giving a moiety of the church of Frenes to Treport with the assent of Countess Adelaide of Aumale and her son Stephen. (Archaeologia 26. pp. 258-60) So it would appear that the Bissets were already in service to Aumale at an early date, maybe as early as c1060/70.

Henry Bisset may well have had brothers and certainly ancestors but the only information available to date indicates that he had at least one son William married to Hawise and that they were tenants in Northamptonshire and Derbyshire in England of Stephen count of Aumale. [Domesday Descendants, p.177] I have been unable to find any further evidence than these bare “facts” a final effort (June 2010) with the Archivist of Derbyshire County Council has failed to find any of the references quoted by others. The most likely explanation is that such a stay was of a very short nature and even if a record is eventually found it will not add much to our total sum Bisset knowledge.

We must assume that although there is no firm evidence one way or the other that he actual held such a holding had he done so then he may well have visited and may have spent sometime living at these tenancies which would make him the first Bisset that we can identify who may have been first Anglo-Norman Bisset in England. It also raises the intriguing possibility that some or all of his sons William, Manasser, Henry and Ausoldus may have been born in England. If he spent any time there it may have included his wife so it is possible that one or more of his children were born in England.

Another Bisset who makes an early appearance in England is the knight in the service of the Archbishop of Canterbury in 1093-96. Dr Keats-Rohan in Doomsday Descendants thinks that he was unrelated to the main Bisset family and was probably the ancestor of Arnold Bisset found in Kent at the time of Henry II. I however feel that while the later part of her statement may well be right, he was indeed a member of the Bisset family possibly a brother to Henry Bisa as it seems most unlikely that a knight of this name at this time was not a part of the overall family. While I have raised the possibility that some of the sons of William Bisset could have been born in England it is to his son Manasser Bisset that we must turn to in order to follow the family’s success in England.

Regardless of his place of birth Manasser made his mark initially in Normandy not England. He was probably born around c1112 and later married to Alice de Cany. Sometime around 1151/53 he acted as witness to charters at Chateau de Loir and Falaise and by 1153 he was Dapifer or Steward to Henry Duke of Normandy. Exactly how this came about is not known but by 1154 Manasser was already noted as being a favourite of Henry’s. [DD. p. 177.]

The court of the ruler in this case Henry of Normandy was not one with a fixed base but was one of a perambulatory nature, it moved constantly around its territory only stopping at the same place on a regular basis for high church occasions such as Easter and Christmas. There were sound reasons for this – the ruler needed to see and be seen – the ruler was the ultimate head of the justice system and could better dispense this on his travels – supplying a fixed based court would have consumed all the spare food and fodder in that area and have caused hardship on the local population as well as creating a logistics problem, both these being solved by taking the court to the supplies and not the other way around and spreading the load on a more equal basis. Hunting a great pastime of the ruling elite also needed to be spread around over a wide area so as not to exhaust the supply of game in any one place.

One of the key functions of a steward at this time was the organisation of the royal household and the constant movement of it from place to place. It needed to arrive at the right place at the right time and altogether. It would have called for some exceptional skills in organisation and diplomacy and was a position which inevitably brought it close to the inner workings of the court as we can see from the number of charters which Manasser was witness to.

Ultimately the steward was the man who knew were the bodies were buried and in such a position of trust was inevitably well rewarded by the ruler as we shall see in the case of Manasser.

Henry Duke of Normandy, later King Henry II of England was one of England’s more interesting monarchs and a man of many talents, according to the chronicler Benedict of Peterborough, “he was fond of work and delighted in detail, he had a gift for organisation, mastery of diplomacy, wise in the selection of his subordinates, skilful in evasion but quiet and sure in action, strong clear headed and tenacious, well educated able to hold his own in conversation, able, frank, astute and unprincipled in matters of business”. On one occasion he is reported to have covered 170 miles in two days so even allowing for the usual sycophancy given to Chroniclers he does seem to have been quite a man and ruler to be wary of.

Henry ran a huge Empire stretching from the Pyrenees to Scotland and all his various domains except Ireland were run not as dependencies of England or any other land. He ruled England as King – Normandy as Duke – Anjou as Count of Anjou and Maine – Aquitaine as Duke. He ruled all these as provinces quite separately as their feudal lord.

It was into this large and complicated structure that Manasser found himself Steward in 1153 alongside Humphrey de Bohun and here he remained close to Henry until his own death in 1177. During this period of 24 years there were another eight Stewards who came and went so inevitably Manasser must have held Henry’s trust throughout and no doubt travelled extensively with him around his domains and been privy to his thoughts. He may well have acted for the King in his absence abroad and carried out state administration directly in the King’s name. In 1157 he appears as the sole witness to a writ of the King concerning land at Bury St Edmunds at a time when the King was in France and there are probably other examples of this occurring. [Add. MS. 7096, fol. 91b (British Museum)]
This trust was well rewarded; in 1155 Manasser was granted the manor of Kidderminster in Worcestershire. In 1156 the manors of Fordingbridge, Rockbourne, and Nether Burgate all in Hampshire and in the same county he also held for a period the manor of Little Durham and half the manor of Stapleham.

Before 1152 (H of MB) he had founded a hospital for leprous women a mile north of the village of Bradley in Somerset which had come to him via his wife Alice de Cany. He later added reversions to the churches of Rockbourne and Kidderminster to fund this hospital, the village is now known as Maiden Bradley. On his death in 1177/8 his son Henry became patron of this hospital which formed part of the Augustine Priory of Maiden Bradley and built a chapel dedicated to St Mathew.

The Duchess of Cleveland in “The Roll of Battle Abbey” states that in 1165 he held a knight’s fee at Chauey in the bailiery of Courtannes in Normandy quoting as her source Duchessine, Feod Norm. This is probably correct and indicated that he still had ties and responsibilities in Normandy. His Normandy holdings are something of a mystery at the moment; suffice to say that he is reported as having extensive holdings there most likely as a result of his marriage. She goes on to say that he has been witness to the accord between King Stephen and Henry Duke of Normandy touching the succession and this would have further cemented his relationship with Henry. He was in effect “a day one man.”

In 1166 he held a knight’s fee in the honour of Gifford at Bradley in England and is in the same year recorded as rendering an account for Preston Bisset in Buckinghamshire. A year later in 1177 we find him holding the manor of East Bridgeford in Nottinghamshire. 1170 finds the king granting to the lepers, the manor of Bradley, this manor came via Alice, Manasser’s wife and it needed the king’s approval to make this grant, which he did at Shaftesbury in the same year. One of the witnesses to this was a Bartholomew Bisset who makes his one and only appearance. At a later date an Arnulf Bisset Lord of Bretizel; (Normandy) gave land at Wishford in Wiltshire to Margery Bisset which she in turn gave to the hospital at Maiden Bradley. It would seem that this hospital was seen as an ongoing charity and commitment by the overall Bisset family long after the death of Manasser and Alice.

We know from charter evidence that Manasser was alive in 1176/7 but the end of his Stewardship to King Henry ends in 1177 with Manasser’s death so he must have died later in that year. At the time of his death his son and heir Henry was still a minor.

Prior to his death, he subinfeued [Subinfeudation was the process by which a tenant-in-chief or his sub-tenant granted one or more of his fees to a further sub-tenant, the (a mesne lord) feudal service required of the sub-tenant might be knight service, or a portion of it, or something purely nominal. A stop was put to this practice in the Statute of Quia Emptores of 1291. In the feudal hierarchy a lord in the middle; ie. the lord of the manor who held (was the tenant) of a superior lord, but was himself a superior lord of a lord holding one or more of his manors. The significance of the word is as in “meantime”.] his manor of East Bridgeford to his brother William the Carpenter and his heirs but in feudal due to Manasser and his heirs. It was Manasser who acquired the manor at East Bridgeford, in Nottinghamshire from King Henry II. But in 1168, as shown by a charter to the priory of Thurgarton, confirmed by King Henry II, in that year we find that Manasser Bisset “enfeoffed with it a certain William his brother, to be held to him and his heirs from the said Manasser and his heirs by homage” the manor of East Bridgeford. This extract is taken from the IPM 1292/3 of William le Graunt and shows that East Bridgeford was not given but held in feudal homage. Quite why this was done is not known but if William the Carpenter was holding Athelington in Lincolnshire, not many miles away there would have been some logic in these two manors being run as one as East Bridgeford was far away from any of Manasser’s other holdings or Manasser may just have owed his brother a favour.

The approximate distance between East Bridgeford and Athelington (modern Allington) is 15 miles an easy ride but more importantly East Bridgeford is also adjacent to Saxondale, and Shelford and a mill at Lowdham, assets which we know William the Carpenter and his heirs were in possession of. So it would seem that Manasser’s subinfeuing was a tidying up operation

By the time of Manasser’s death the Bissets were largely through him well established in England with land holdings in at least four counties and were now of baronial rank, all the holdings being collectively know as the Barony of Bisett. [EB. p.5.] With his brother William the Carpenter holding Athelington [probably from Aumale] and East Bridgeford in feudal due to Manasser and his heirs. All this was a not inconsiderable achievement for the family of Bisset in a period of less than 23 years and some indication of the regard the family was held in by the crown which as we shall see was to remain a powerful influence three reigns later with the reign of Henry III of England.

The Genealogy of the Anglo-Norman Bissets

The second genealogy is given in “The Norman Frontier in the Twelfth and Thirteenth Centuries” by Dr D. Power. Here the emphasis is on the Bissets still in Normandy and he includes what I would call floating Bissets that is those who we know existed but can’t exactly place.

I have included both these genealogies in Appendix VII, unaltered and with their sources where known. I have reviewed my own compilation which I drew up before I found Dr Power’s data and have decided to present as is; his Normandy information does not affect my Anglo- Norman data. The order of William Bisa’s sons differs but as is unproven has no bearing on either result.

The VCH’s do on occasions show individual Bissets hanging in space in so far as a single mention with a name does not always provide enough information to place them into the whole Bisset genealogy. An example of this is in the VCH for Buckinghamshire, in writing about the manor of Preston it states that Manasser Bisset (7) [The number in brackets refers to the number allocated to each individual on the “Suggested Genealogy” for the Anglo Norman Bissets (Figure_1 only - see below)] was succeeded in this manor by Anselm Bisset whose name is first connected with Buckinghamshire in 1197 and with Preston manor in 1205. Anselm was succeeded in turn by Ernald Bisset who held it in 1254 or even earlier. As I have found no other reference or confirmation of the spelling for Anselm so it is not possible to place him accurately, obviously a relation of Manasser but what? A cousin, a nephew… impossible to state with the limited facts available.

Therefore the “Suggested Genealogy” should be read as an attempt to draw together the known information into a best guess estimate and no more. There are a couple of specific areas with which I am unhappy and for the moment unable to satisfactorily resolve; firstly dates concerning Manasser and Alice du Cany (7 & 8) and secondly the dates for Albreda Bisset (18) which hopefully time and more information will resolve.

The Anglo-Norman Bissets

In tracing the lines of the English Bissets one immediately finds confusion and contradiction between previously published commentaries. In the main these have tended to cover only one of the various lines (and sometimes “borrowing” from one line to another) or being concerned solely with a property held in a specific location and not with the Bissets as a whole. The principle that I have worked to is that there were two known main branches of the English Bissets, the descendants of William the Carpenter and the descendants of Manasser Bisset.

The land holdings in England of the Bissets were determined and in place by the death of these two and no additional English lands of note were acquired by subsequent generations. In fact one could say that the stature and power of the family was acquired by the first generation and subsequent generations lived off this power base until lost via female heiresses repeatedly slicing up the barony of Bisset with dower.

The English holdings of William the Carpenter at the time of his death consisted of the manor of Athelington (Allington) in Lincolnshire which he may probably held in feudal service from his Aumale connection and that of his father. He held the manor of East Bridgeford in Nottinghamshire in feudal due to his brother Manasser and his heirs. As the feudal superiors I can find no evidence that Manasser’s heirs sought to repossess this manor but it ultimately passed out of the Bisset control and was broken up along with Manasser’s holdings when both lines found themselves with female heirs at the same time. William also held some land in Saxondale and Shelford manors near to East Bridgeford. Manasser held the far greater land holding the largest parts being in Kidderminster and Hampshire.

I have worked on the basis of endeavouring to pick up every reference to the Bissets which I could find and any reference to land holding and on the basis that we can differentiate between William the Carpenter’s holdings and Manasser’s, plotting individual Bissets into one or other of these two lines. We are also helped here by the Norman naming pattern and the restricted use of first names which remain fairly constant in each line. The result sometimes agrees and sometimes differs from previous accounts but I feel confident that by using the land holdings as a base the resulting genealogy is as accurate as possible from all the available and sometimes conflicting records.

I am well aware that there are individual Bissets not shown here who do occur from time to time in documents of this period but only knowing their name is not enough to place them accurately into any genealogy without secondary evidence to cross reference them and place them with confidence. I am also fully aware that there are inconsistencies between the genealogies previously published but am confident that the genealogy shown here is a strong platform for future students to build on. Any major inconsistency is noted.

I have given each of the 51 names in figure 1 a number and give below a brief account of each and a note of the reference referring to these individuals.

The relationships between these 51+ individuals can be seen in a variety of ways. Browsers vary, however, so not all these links may invoke the appropriate program. In all cases the file is called "figure_1" and is located in folder 5. Use the link to open a .pdf document with a family tree diagram; alternatively use this link to open a GEDCOM file or this link to open an .xls spreadsheet of the same individuals

Henry Visa or Bisa: (1) c1090-c1130. The DD p.177. Suggests that this Henry may be the father of William Bisset (3) and that he and his wife Bertha gave a moiety of the church of Fresnes to Tiepont, with the assent of Countess Adelaide of Aumale and her son Stephen, (quoting Archaeolgia 26. pp, 258-260). This is the only reference I have found concerning Henry and with the added weight of the Aumale connection it seems very probable.

(2) Bertha: c1090-c1130. Reputed to be wife of Henry Bisa (1) see ref above.

(3) William Bisset or Bisa: c1108-c1145. Quoted from DD. p, 177. He was associated in England and Normandy with Stephen Count of Aumale, Lord of Holderness and successor of Drogo de Beureure. His family held land near Aumale at Ellecort from the Counts of Aumale (Delisle, rec Henri ii. ii. 212,) he appears first in the pipe roll of 31 Henri i. for Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire. (See also ref TN. P. 292) A William Bisa witnessed the confirmation of Stephen, Count of Aumale, and to Lucian of Beauvais of the gifts which Adeliza his mother made to churches in Yorkshire, Lincolnshire and Normandy. William can be traced to the early 12th Century and was connected with Aumale hence West Allington but quite how the connection between West Allington was achieved remains unclear.

(4) Hawise Bisset: c1108-c1145. Modern version Isabel, known to have been the wife of William (3) she is mentioned as such in charters of Thurgarton priory in Nottinghamshire along with other living and deceased members of the Bisset family. (See also TN. p, 292)

(5) William (the Carpenter) Bisset: c1126-1180. From charter sources we know that he was possibly the eldest son of William (3) and Hawise (4) the Thurgarton cartulary shows that he held land in West Allington, Lincolnshire and a mill at Lowdham in Nottinghamshire, lands in Shelford, East Bridgeford and Saxondale.

William acquired the additional designation of “the Carpenter”. It has taken me many years to arrive at the derivation of this nick name and just by chance I saw a reference to a William the Carpenter in R. A. Brown’s book “The Normans” This knight took part in the First Crusade 1096. William the Carpenter, Viscount of Melun and was so named Carpenter because of his great strength (Runciman, A History of the Crusades 1, confirms) He was disgraced for desertion at the siege of Antioch. He had previously deserted before against the Moors in Spain and was told by Bohemond his leader on his recapture, that he was “a wretched disgrace to the whole Frankish army and a dishonourable blot on all the people of Gaul” So maybe the word Carpenter was something of a pun or play on words to the Normans a meaning now lost to us. And it seems reasonable to assume that our William’s nick-name probably also referred to his size and strength and was part of Norman folk law.

William the Carpenter son of William Bisa (3) seems to have been in the service of Stephen Count of Aumale hence his holding of West Allington. He also held via his brother Manasser (7) and his heirs in feudal service East Bridgeford. All that we can reasonably deduce is that William was in Scotland at an early date c1150 or slightly before and was witness to charters of both King Malcolm and King William. At some point he held land from the Scottish Crown which was later regranted probably at his death.

(6) Susana Bisset: c1130-c1166. Known from charter evidence (TC) to have been the wife of William the Carpenter (5) nothing further known.

(7) Manasser Bisett: c1130-1177. The most prominent and successful of the Anglo-Norman Bissets, known from the TC to have been the second son of William and Hawise Bisset. (3) and (4). Listed in DD. p.177. Became Dapifer (Steward) to Henry Duke of Normandy later King Henry II. of England c1153, and again in 1155/65 a position he held until his death c1177. During his second period as steward he was witness or attested to over 55 state documents or charters both in Normandy and England. He received from the English crown lands in Nottinghamshire, Worcestershire, and Hampshire which collectively formed the Barony of Bisset (EB. p.5-6.) The Hampshire manors were in the Hundred of Fordingbridge which is between Winchester and Southampton and adjacent to the New Forest. The estate was made up of the manors of Nether Burgate, Little Damerham, Rockbourne and Shamblehurst.

The main prize among his holdings was Kidderminster in Warwickshire, which had been held by the crown and accounted for by the sheriff. King Henry II alienated it to Manasser sometime between 1156-1162. (The date is limited as Becket was a witness) A history of Kidderminster manor can be found in the VCH for Warwickshire under the Halfshire Hundred. The manor was held for knight’s service but the exact amount is not now known. Manasser married Alice sister and heiress of Gilbert of Falaise, seigneur of Cany, Seine-Maritime arr, Yvetot (Chartes Longueville, no 5. p33) in whose right he held one fee of the honour of Gifford in 1166. (See also EB. p.5.)(Also TN .p.292.) He appears in numerous charters for details see Chronology relating to the Bisset family.

(8) Alice de Cany: c1142-c1180. Wife of Manasser Bisset and sister and heiress to Gilbert of Falaise. (DD. P. 177.) Related to the Gifford family. As heiress to Gilbert she must at some point brought to Manasser property, I suspect in the main in Normandy. I do know that she brought as dower the property of Bradley in Somerset subsequently known as Maiden Bradley which she and Manasser endowed as a priory for leprous women, an endowment which other and later members of the Bissets continued to endow in later years and generations.

(9) Henry Bisett: c1131-c1160. Son of William (3) and Hawise (4) his status as such is quoted in TC. p.243. quoting charter references. He is the second of four Henrys in this genealogy and known to be dead by 1177. Nothing further is known about him that can be confirmed by cross reference. It is for the moment pure speculation that he might be the Henry who later appears in Scotland; he may or may not have been that Henry. TN. p.292.

(10) Ausoldus Bisset: c1136-c1170. All that we know for certain is his status as a son of William (3) and Hawise (4) and brother to William (5) and Manasser (7) all from charter data, see TC. p.243 and p.248. He may have been the father of Ernulfus Bisset (17) but this is by no means certain. There are no references so far found to place him in England and the assumption must be that he never left Normandy. He appears in Normandy where the influence of Aumale was strong. Robert de Canceris had given land to the Abbey of Fourcarmont with the assent of Ausoldus and Henry Bisset before 1156/61.

(11) Henry Bisset: c1144-c1200. Dead by 1219 (A). Son and heir of William (5) and Susana (6) who married Albreda de Lesiures (12) (TN p.292.) He is recorded by Thoroton as confirming his father’s gifts to the church for the souls of his father and mother and of Albreda his wife, thereby confirming his parentage and the name of his wife. He died without a male heir and the Fee in West Allington passed to his daughter Albreda (18). The TC places Albreda as a niece or granddaughter but I believe this to be an incorrect interpretation and I think caused by misunderstanding the number of Albredas in this line.

(12) Albreda de Lesiures: c1150-c1226. Wife of Henry Bisset (11) who was the sister of John the Constable of Chester, their mother was Albreda de Lesiures daughter of Robert de Lesiures and Albreda daughter of Robert son of Ilbert de Lacy. From Henry’s point of view a marriage to Albreda linked him to powerful families in the North West of England. On Henry’s death she re-married William de Belvoir (13) as an heiress, widow and potential ward Henry’s estate was at risk but seems to have survived his death intact unless there was estate which is not recorded here. It is possible that any estate which she brought as dower to Henry went to de Belvoir.

(13) William de Belvoir: on the death of Henry Bisset (11) he married his widow Albreda Bisset (12) (née de Lesiures).

(14) Henry Bisset: 1166-1208. Succeeded his father in 1177 and came of age in 1187 (DD) Son and heir of Manasser Bisset (7) in 1187 the livery of Kidderminster was given to Manasser’s heirs (Pipe Roll 33. Henri ii) on coming of age Henry received a new grant for the manor of Kidderminster from the king in which he is described as a Dapifer or Steward which is incorrect he was never a steward and is being confused with his father. In 1201 Geoffrey Fitz Piers was holding the manor from King John but Henry Bisset (14) received a new grant from the king (carta Antug. 35. 12.) For this and his other manors and agreed in May 1199 to pay 500 marks in installments for the vills of Kidderminster and Sandhurst (Hants). On Henry’s (14) death the wardship of his heir was given to William of Huntingford who was a prominent member of the baronial opposition to King John. The VCH Hants has him as alive in 1199 but in William the Carpenter’s charter c1177 (TC) which mentions so many of his family he is presumed dead “Henry his nephew”. Both statements cannot on the face of it be correct and I think that the correct interpretation is that Henry (14) son of Manasser (7) was alive in 1199 as there is evidence (Rot, de Oblate et fin (Rec Com) 4) as to his agreement of payments for the Vills at Kidderminster and Sandhurst.

Dugdale in “The Baronage” causes confusion when he states that Henry (14) died without issue and another Henry his nephew became his heir to whom succeeded John Bisset (24). This is incorrect Henry did have offspring (22) (24) and (26) he had no nephew Henry but he did have a cousin Henry (11). This misrepresentation of the line has resulted in writers confusing the two lines of William the Carpenter (5) and Manasser Bisset (7)

The (TC) charter which is dated 1177 or before is also probably correct in implying that a Henry, nephew to William the Carpenter was dead but the correct interpretation of this in that this Henry was another nephew who could have been the son of Henry (9) or Ausoldus (10). Once again the restricted use of first names within a family leaves the field wide open to confusion.

On the outbreak of war the sheriff seized Kidderminster for the King. At Runnymede 21st June 1215 Huntingford who had been appointed one of the Conservators of the Great Charter had his seized lands restored, but in the following November Kidderminster was delivered to Roger la Zouche “during pleasure” and Kidderminster was only restored to the Bissets after the death of King John. [Roger la Zouche is the same Roger who married Margaret Bisett (26) and probably met her during his stewardship of Kidderminster.]

When King Henry II granted the manors of Kidderminster to Manasser Bisset (7) He gave him also full jurisdiction over his tenants, “soke and sake, toll and theam, infangtheof and unfangtheof and all the liberties and free customs whereof any of my Barons of England holds best”.

It is not totally certain who Henry married, one source credits him with marrying Isolde Pantole and another source places her as the wife of William (23) his son, unless there were two Isoldes. The position is further confused with one source crediting him with a son William who married a Sarah who when widowed re-married a Richard Keyes and William Bisett (22) as being the son of this William and grandson of Henry.

The VCH, Warwickshire, Halfshire Hundred. p, 159. claims that William’s (22) widow Sarah married Richard Keynes (de Cahannis) [Testa de Neville] Rec Com. 406. And in 1223 she failed to defend her claim to dower in Kidderminster against her daughter in law Isolde widow of William Bisset the younger and her second husband Aumary St Amand. Under an exchange with John Bisset (24) brother and heir of the younger William, Amand held the whole manor instead of the third which was his wife’s dower.

I have difficulty making some of these conflicting statements fit and without further evidence that there were two Williams I have to assume for the moment that the elder one did not exist and that Sara (23) wife of William (22) failed to defend her action for dower against her mother in law and was not her daughter in law; and the line goes Henry (14) William (22) and that there was no additional William between these two. However even if he had existed he would appear to have been an only child with no offspring of his own and would only add one generation to Manasser’s descendants.

(15) Isolde Pantole: c1170-c1227. Daughter of Roger Pantole or Pantolf of Abkettleby, and the widow of Walter de Tateshall. Roger Pantolf was probably of the family of Pantaulf. (Hugh 1157- William 1175-1189 Sheriff of Shropshire) She is recorded as holding the manor of Rockbourne in Hants as a widow in the early 13thC. As this was one of Manasser’s original manors it confirms which branch of the English Bissets she had married into. In December 1213 Isolde Bisset now a widow of Henry Bisset (14) came to court claiming that the king had disseised her of her vill of Magorban, (Ireland) and the Justiciar of Ireland was ordered to see that she had such seisen of the vill as her husband had held at his death. She was able to bring influential pressure to bear to support her case, for her offer of 100 marks and a palfrey was guaranteed by Geoffrey de Longchamps, Walter de Dunstanville, Fulk fitz Warin and Ranulf Earl of Chester. Her father in law had been steward of the household of Henry II and her daughters married into families of substance (quite who these were is unclear and must have been from her earlier marriage) In March 1215 the King instructed the Sheriff of Nottingham that she was not to be distrained for the debts of yet another dead husband and in August he sent letters to Ireland ordering the restoration of Magorban; further restoration in Fingall and from the fine of 1213 she was not given full restitution until after Runnymede and the civil war which followed. This data is taken from Magna Carta by Prof J.C. Rolt, and is the first indication that Henry Bisset (14) had land in Ireland which had probably come via dower.

1223 Isolda now wife of Almaric de St Amand sought her dower at Kidderminster and was described as widow of William Bisset, brother of John, sons of Henry Bisset Bractons Notebook 1550, 1580. Foulds thinks that this is an error as Isolda was holding part of the Bisset barony until after 1212.

I think she was the wife of Henry (14) and not William (22) and Holt mentions the fact that King John had several mistresses and S. Painter in “The Reign of King John, p.234. hints at such a relationship, Quote “Then in 1205 a Bristol wine merchant was directed to give Henry Bisset a dolia of wine which we gave to his wife” [Rot. Claus I, 21.] “Such instances can obviously mean anything or nothing.”

(16) Margaret Bisset, (The Maid): c1170-c1250. Sister to Henry Bisset (14) a nun. Margaret is recorded as being instrumental in saving the life of King Henry III from an assassin while at her prayers. In 1238 a “madman” entered the King’s apartments during the night with an open knife in his hand for the purpose of killing him. Margaret Bisset one of the Queen’s maids had been singing psalms by the light of a candle discovered him and raised the alarm thereby saving the King. The would-be assassin was seized and subsequently torn limb from limb by horses at Coventry. Once more a member of the Bisset family had rendered valuable service to the English throne. This timely service to him rendered by one of the family may have been on the King’s mind when he extended protection to Walter Bisset in 1243. She is recorded as having built a house within the priory of Maiden Bradley in order to live a life of quiet contemplation.

(17) Ernulphus Bisset: c1157-c1210. Very probably a son of Ausoldus Bisset (10) see TN. p.292 where he is quoted as being a nephew of William the Carpenter(2). Ernulf is probably to be identified with Arnulf Bisset who granted the church of Ellecort (Seine-Inferieure arr. Neufchatel cant Aumale) and a moiety of the old wood of Morvilers to the Abbey of St Martin, Aumale before 1181-2. In 1186-7 an Ernulf Bisset paid 30s, scutage in Kent, and in 1194-5 Auselinus Bisset was quit scutage in Kent.

(18) Albreda Bisset: c1168-c1250. Daughter of Henry Bisset (11) and Albreda de Lesiures (12) She married Warin de Bassingbourn (19) As heiress of Henry (11) she inherited West Allington, lands in Harwood, Nott’s and the manor of East Bridgeford (TC. p.245.) by reason of custody of John Bisset 2nd son (24) of Henry Bisset (14) and grandson of Manasser Bisset (7) (TC. p. 245.) The rector of East Bridgeford between 1255-94 was John Clarel and his patron was Albreda.

This is an area of some confusion, as Henry’s heir (11) she would have inherited West Allington in her own right and possibly some other lands but John (24) would have been the ultimate heir to East Bridgeford as Manasser had subinfeued East Bridgeford retaining the title for his heirs of whom John (24) was. It may have been that John (24) was still a minor hence Albreda’s custody of him and there being no other males living in direct line to Manasser (7) John’s (24) sisters Margery (33) Ella (34) and Margaret (35) were also in ward.

Albreda was claimed against by the Abbot of Rochester in 1243; she called as witnesses Margery (33) Ela (34) and Isabella (35) the daughters and heirs of John Bisset (24) and the text states that only Margery (33) was of age and that the other two sisters were in the custody of John de Plessy. De Plessy or Plessis who became Earl of Warwick when he married the widowed countess Margery, he did not use the title before 1247. He died 25-02-1262. (P. vol x. p. 545/46). Thoroton states that she had issue of Constancia (30) Isabel (45) and Agnes (43) but I believe that the last two were in fact daughters of Constancia.

There has been considerable uncertainty caused by this Albreda and in placing her in the right Bisset line. She was the daughter of Henry (11) and Albreda (12) and as such heiress to Henry (11). The confusion comes from crediting her with too long a life and two marriages.

The TN has her as having a second marriage to William le Graunt or Grant (29) and for a long time I too thought this to be so but started to have serious doubts as to her age if this had been the case. She would have been well past child bearing age but there could have still been a sound political reason, a subterfuge by her family to protect the estate. As a widow the crown would have had the right to marry her off to anyone they chose most likely a royal favourite or at the best taken the estates into royal wardship and siphoned off the income.

The logical solution to this that there must have been another Albreda, it was a name that ran through at least three generations of the same line so there is no reason to suppose it could not run further. The genealogy given in EB.p.28. supports the theory that there was a daughter called Albreda (28) to Albreda and Warin de Bassingbourn (18) and (19) and the relevant Bassingbourn dates confirm this. Foulds states that Henry (11) died without male heirs [correct] and that the fee in West Allington passed to his niece or granddaughter Albreda and that she married Warin de Bassingbourn and held Allington for three parts of one Fee of Aumale in 1242-3 and seems to be the same Albreda holding Harworth (Nott’s) of the Earl of Lincoln, and East Bridgeford by reason of custody of John Bisset (24)……. [the confusion come by ms-placing the two Henrys (11) and (14) if these are placed correctly Albreda fits correctly as Henry’s (11) daughter and if as I believe she had a daughter Albreda the jig-saw fits correctly.

(19) Warin de Bassingbourn: 1227-1269. Husband of Albreda Bisset (18) came of age c1248. He was a follower of Lord Edward and rewarded in 1266 for his royalism during the baronial rebellion with several offices. Once again there is scope for confusion, although the VCH. Camb, Armingford Hundred p. 15 and 20 gives details of the descent of all the male heirs from c1170 in no instance does it give details of any of their respective wives. We only find Albreda (18) in EB p.28. and TN. p. 293/294.

Exactly who his children were is also not completely clear; the VCH gives his heir as Edmund and the EB only credits him with two daughters Albreda (28) and Constancia (30) but at the moment I believe that all three were his offspring.

(20) Amabilia Bisset: c1180-c1225. A daughter of Henry Bisset (11) who married John of Sproxton. (21) She had land in Oxedune which was held of Clare and was given as dower on her marriage to John of Sproxton (21)

(21) John of Sproxton: c1180-c1240. Husband to Amabilia Bisset (20).

(22) William Bisset: 1191-c1220. Son of Henry Bisset (14) Came of age 1212, died 1220 (EB). Married Isolde? (See note re Isolda Pantole above) (23) who later on widowhood re-married, Aumary St Amand. As his widow in 1223 she sought her dower in Kidderminster when she is described as widow of William Bisset (22) brother of John Bisset (24) (TC. p.251.) It does not appear that William ever actually held the manor in his lifetime due to it being administered by others for the crown as a result of the baronial conflict.

(23) Sarah? c1196-c1240. Wife of William (22) see notes in (22).

(24) John Bisset: c1197-1241. 2nd son of Henry Bisset (14) died 1234-35. IPM 1st March 1336. At some time Chief Forester of England. (DC) Married Alice Basset. (25) While under age he was in the custody of Albreda de Bassingbourn (18) his cousin. [The VCH Hants gives a date of death as 1241 but this must be his son John (32)] The manor of Little Burgate was assigned to his eldest daughter Margery (33) and co-heir on his death.

In Kidderminster, John as brother and heir of his brother William (22) carried out an exchange with Aumary St Amand so that Aumary held the whole manor instead of a third which was his wife’s dower. This grant was renewed in 1238. In 1240 he came to an agreement with the prior and convent of Worcester as to the bounds of their respective lands. He died in 1241 leaving his three daughters as co-heirs Margery (33) the eldest was wife to Robert or Richard Rivers, (34) Ela (35) married first Ralf Neville (36) and afterwards John Wotton, (37) Isabel (38) the third daughter became the wife of Hugh Plessy (39) the son of John Plessy who had held her wardship. (John Plessy did not inherit his father’s title.
This went to Sir Hugh de Plessy his half brother by the Countess’s first marriage.) The Advowson of the Church of Kidderminster formed part of the dower of his widow Alice and litigation ensued both in England and Rome, it was settled in 1250 and again finally by arbitrators appointed by the Pope. With the death of Alice Bisset (25) two of the co-heirs of John Bisset (24) surrendered all their rights in the Advowson to John Rivers (47) the husband of the third co-heir who regranted the church to the priory which was confirmed in 1270 by royal confirmation.

There is a statement in Documents of the Baronial Movement and Rebellion, by Treharne and Sanders. p. 282. “Promising through our beloved and faithful knight William Bisset and clerk Robert Faulk” [William Bisset is described as the king’s Butler in March and August 1263] the above quote is from a letter dated 23rd Jan 1264. The re-establishment of peace between Henry King of England and the barons of his realm. John Bisset (24) married Alice (25) the widow of William Malet d circa 1216 and baron of Curry Malet in Somerset. He (Malet) left his estate to his three daughters.

(25) Alice Basset: c1200-c1263. Alice was the youngest daughter of Thomas Basset Lord of Colyton and Whitford, Devon. Alice inherited one third of the barony on Thomas’s death in 1220 and this increased the whole of the estate and her heirs were her three daughters by John Bisset (24), Margery (33), Ela (35) and Isabel (38). Alice died sometime between 1248-9 to 1265.

Alice, wife of John Bisset (24), on her death the Advowson of Kidderminster which formed part of her dower went to litigation in England and in Rome (VCH- W. p, 175.) At her death the two co-heirs of John Bisset (24) surrendered all the rights in the Advowson to John Rivers (47). The two co-heirs regranted the church “with all its liberties and rights and customs.” to the priory of Maiden Bradley. In 1270 the prior obtained royal confirmation of these grants.

(26) Margaret Bisset: c1200-1255. Daughter of Henry Bisset (14) married Roger la Zouche (27). She died 1255-6. [Some writers have confused her with a much later Margaret who was sister to John Bisset (48) previously Wotton.]

(27) Roger la Zouche: 1182-1236. Husband of Margaret Bisset (26) He had at one time had the Kidderminster estate delivered up to him under the king’s pleasure, in other words King John confiscated the estate for its revenue with Roger La Zouche as his administrator. With King John’s death the estates reverted back to the Bissets but not before Roger had met and married Margaret Bisset. (26) “Roger la Zouche was brother and heir to William de Belmeis, he paid £100 to have William’s lands in 1199. Those in England were seized before 1204 while he was in Brittany because of the war in Normandy, and he proffered 100m to regain possession of them in that year. He served in Poitou 1204-05 and in 1214 was in Ireland; and swore to support the Barons who were enforcing Magna Carta in1215. However he soon joined the King, for he witnessed a royal charter, 11th June 1216, and was rewarded both at the end of King John’s reign and during the opening years of Henry III with numerous grants of land. He had to go on pilgrimage to Santiago, 6th August 12120; was given money as a royal messenger, Oct 1224; was going to Brittany with the King’s leave, May 1228; Sheriff of Devon 10th Nov 1228 – Apr 1231. In May 1229 he was with Phillip Daubeney and Godfrey de Crawcombe was allowed 100m to cover the costs of a mission across the seas for the king. He served in Brittany 1230; and was ordered to find one knight at the King’s cost to aid the Duke of Brittany, 1234 and was among those who witnessed Henry III’s confirmation of Magna Carta at Westminster, 28 Jan 1236/7. He married Margaret Bisset who was living in 1220 and presumably 1232. [When Roger's wife received a gift of two stags from the king (Close Rolls, 1231-34, p.95)] He died shortly before 14th May 1238, his son and heir was Alan la Zouche. (P)”

(28) Albreda de Bassingbourn: c1241-c1303. Daughter of Albreda (18) and Warin de Bassingbourn (19); she inherited both the manors of East Bridgeford and West Allington which became her husband’s William le Grant (29) in life rent. In theory the manor of East Bridgeford should have reverted to the heirs of John Bisset (24) under the terms of Manasser’s original lease.

(29) William le Grant: c1246-c1291. Husband of Albreda de Bassingbourn (28) and through her held the manors of East Bridgeford and West Allington in life rent. It is William who was seen as the basis for the arrival of the Grants in Scotland the assumption being that he or his relatives went to Scotland with Walter Bisset at the end of his exile in 1248. This theory has been proved to be wrong both chronologically and historically, Grants being recorded in Scotland before this date. William did not marry until 1274, 26 years after he or his descendants were supposed to have gone to Scotland with Walter Bisset. Where exactly William or any of the other Grants in Allington and area came from is not clear and there are several possible explanations. They could have formed part of a group who may have come to Lincoln with Richard Grant when he became Chancellor of the diocese of Lincoln and later Archbishop of Canterbury (if indeed he was a Grant, the jury is still out on this) An as yet unpublished book by Adrian Grant quotes evidence that Richard Grant was indeed a Grant and the Archbishop of Canterbury.– they may not be related at all to Scottish Grants – they may have been merchants or soldiers who stayed on; at the moment it is speculation.

(30) Constance de Bassingbourn: c1255-c1310. Second daughter of Albreda (18) and Warin de Bassingbourn (19)

(31)? Unknown husband of Constansa de Bassingbourn (30)

(32) John Bisset: c1215-c1230. Son of John Bisset (24) and Alice Basset (25) known to have died 1334-5

(33) Margery Bisset: c1222c1256. Died in 1255-6 one of three daughters of John (24) and Alice Bisset (25) on the death of their brother John (32) dead by 1253, they became equal heiresses to the estate of John Bisset (24) and so ended the male blood line of Manasser Bisset (7). Margery married Richard de Rivers (34) and was the mother of John Rivers of Burgate. (47) In the reign of Henry II there was a dispute over land at East Bridgeford and Albreda (18) came forward to answer and called to warrant Margery, Ella and Isabel the daughters and heirs of John Bisset (24) Margery (33) was of full age, Ella (35) and Isabel (38) under age and in the custody of John de Plesseto (Plessy) Earl of Warwick, they were summoned to the court at Southampton in 1243. (TN.)

(34) Richard de Rivers: c1218-1243. Of Ongar Essex (Stamford Rivers) husband of Margery Bisset (33) and father of John Rivers of Burgate (47). Dead by 1243.

(35) Ella Bisset: c1237-c1282. Second daughter of John (24) and Alice Bisset (25) married firstly Ralf de Neville c, 1234(36) and on his death John de Wotton (37). Her portion of the Kidderminster inheritance was known as Kidderminster Bisset.

(36) Ralf Neville: c1237-b1259. First husband of Ella Bisset (35) There are six Ralf Neville’s given in the Complete Peerage” I believe that he is Ralf de Neville who is known as the father of Hugh the Forester. His wife’s name is unknown (i.e. not given in P.) and he is assumed to have married a daughter and heir of Bertram Raffin. This may well be true and could be a first marriage and his marriage to Ella Bisset (35) his second – we know that she also married twice.

(37) John de Wotton: c1237-b1300. Second husband of Ella Bisset (35) dead by 1300, father of John (48) who took the name Bisset. He survived his wife and settled his inheritance on his son John (48)

(38) Isabel Bisset: c1238-1280. Third daughter of John (24) and Alice Bisset (25) married Sir Hugh Plessy (Plessetis) who was the son of John Plessetis, Earl of Warwick who had at one point the wardship of both Ella (35) and Isabel (38). Her portion of the Kidderminster inheritance was known after 1476 by the name of Kidderminster Burnell. It was alienated before the death of Hugh Plessy to Robert Burnell, Bishop of Bath and Wells, the great chancellor of King Edward I, who purchased other lands in the county. She is buried within the church at Hook Norton.

(39) Sir Hugh Plessy (Plessetis) of Hook Norton: c1247-1292. Husband of Isabel Bisset (38) dead by 1292, the son of John Plessy Earl of Warwick by his first wife Christina, he had in 1241 had grant and custody of (35) Ella and Isabel Bisset (38). John Plessy father of Sir Hugh was one of the twelve Barons making up the Baronial Group to protect the Provisions of 1259. Sir Hugh went on Crusade returning in 1273 to France to meet King Edward I. His heir by Isabel was Hugh Plessetis. (P)

(40) Eustace le Grant: c1269-c1309. Son of Albreda (28) and William le Grant (29)

(41) Beatrice le Grant: c1270-c1315. Daughter of Albreda (28) and William le Grant (29) married Roger de Brabazon (42)

(42) Roger de Brabazon: c1260-c1317. Husband to Beatrice le Grant (41) dead 1317, (EB) Roger held the manor of East Bridgeford, one moiety of the inheritance of his wife Beatrix, (41) to them and their heirs; the other moiety for the term of his life of the grant of John de Caltoft (44) and Agnes (43) his wife; and John de Moulton (46) and Isabel (45) his wife. Roger and Beatrix died without heirs and the moiety was reversed. (TN) “Roger de Brabazon was judge, spokesman of King Edward I of England, in the demands in Scotland concerning the succession and pronounced judgement in favour of Balliol. (P)”

(43) Agnes: c1269-c1319. Daughter of Constancia de Bassingbourn (30) and her unknown husband. (31) Date of marriage 1318, (TN)

(44) Sir John Caltoft: c1269-c1312. Husband of Agnes. (43)

(45) Isabella: c1270-c1320. Second daughter of Constansa de Bassingbourn (30) and her unknown husband (31) in 1338 the land at East Bridgeford was divided between Agnes (43) and Isabel (45)

(46) Sir John Moulton: c1265-c1330. Husband to Isabella (45)

(47) John Rivers of Burgate: c1240-c1280. Son of Margery (33) and Robert Rivers (34) Dead c1322. When he inherited from his mother he gave it to the prior of Maiden Bradley and the leprous sisters of that house which was the foundation of Manasser Bisset (7) and his wife Alice (8) in exchange for land in Burgate.

(48) John Bisset: c1269-c1307. Previously Wotton he changed his name to Bisset presumably to enhance his inheritance, married an (49) Emma. He was holding the manor of Rockbourne in 1300. Died before 1307 and left a son John. The manor of Rockbourne in Hants passed to (35) Ella after the death of her father (24) John. (48) John Bisset succeeded his father in the manor in 1300 (VCH Hants) half the manor of Little Damerham and a messuage of land at Stapleham which passed on his death to his infant son John who died 1334-5. During his minority the manor was held custody by the Bishop of Bath and Wells. (VCH. Hants). Half of the manor of Little Damerham to his sister and heir Margaret formally the wife of Walter Romney and then wife to Richard Mastta or Martin. She and her husband granted a reversion of a messuage of land and rent in Damerham then held by Emma (wife of John Bisset in dower to John de Humerford for life 1342-3. (37) John Wotton senior settled his wife’s inheritance in the manor of Kidderminster on his son (48) John who died before 1307 leaving a son John.

(49) Emma or Kathleen: c1279-c1319. Wife of John Bisset. (48)

(50) Margaret Bisset: c1297-c1330. Sister of John Bisset (48) married first to Walter Romsey and secondly to Robert Martin. Succeeded to brother’s estate on death of brother’s only son John and (51) therefore effectively the end of the Bisset line in England.

(51) John Bisset: c1297-c1310. Son of John Bisset (48) and last known male Bisset from the original two lines established in England. I think the above shows the most comprehensive genealogy of the English branch of the Bissett family so far. I am well aware that others of this name are found in England during this period but without supporting evidence it is not possible to accurately place them into any genealogy.

In addition to this there was also a certain amount of cross border relationships, Scottish Bissets appearing in England and vice versa, English Bissets appearing in Ireland and having holdings there as well as Scottish Bissets doing the same in Antrim and all branches in the main using a restrictive number of first names.

It can be seen that the Bissets were a notable family of baronial rank in England with considerable holdings of land largely due to the prominence of Manasser Bisset. The family gradually fell to female heirs who took dower with them to their respective husbands and we can see that many of these husbands were of high standing and rank in the society of the day.

Dates should be taken as indicative only and in many cases where there is no supporting evidence and represent a best guess estimate

I know that future students will unearth new or as yet unknown evidence which will add and further clarify what is essentially a complicated story.

Chapter 3: The Anglo-Norman Bissets