Hamon II de Massey, Baron of Dunham Massey

From British History Online: The priory of St. James the Great at Birkenhead stood on a wooded headland on the north-eastern shore of the Wirral peninsula near a river ferry across the Mersey to Liverpool; the existence of a ferry may have been the reason for the foundation of a monastery on such an isolated site and for its dedication. (fn. 1) According to John Leland the priory was founded for sixteen monks (fn. 2) and was a cell of Chester abbey. (fn. 3) Although it is possible that the original monks were supplied by St. Werburgh's, there is no further evidence of dependency. The date of foundation and the identity of the founder are as obscure as most other aspects of the history of the priory. The traditional date is 1150 (fn. 4) but there is no documentary evidence that the priory existed before the second half of the reign of Henry II. (fn. 5) The nature of the priory's endowment suggests that a member of the Massey family of Dunham founded it, probably the second Hamon de Massey who died in 1185. (fn. 6) A Hamon de Massey granted the monks the right to elect their priors from among their own number; the right is likely to have been the gift of the founder and the Pope Alexander who confirmed the grant was probably Alexander III (1159-81). (fn. 7) [https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/ches/vol3/pp128-132]

Source:"Altrincham & Bowdon [https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36350576-altrincham-bowdon]: with historical reminiscences of Ashton-on-Mersey, Sale, and surrounding townships" The second Hamon had issue, Hamon, a son and heir, and Robert Massey, from whom sprang the Massseys of Sale. This is probably the Hamon Massey who is noticed in one of the ancient chronicles as having held the Castle of Dunham against Henry II (Curtmantle) during the Great Revolt in 1173, the rebellion of which Hugh, Earl of Chester, was principal leader. He gave the lands of Bramhall, or Bromale, to Matthew de Bromale by charter, of which the following is a translation : —

"Hamo de Masci to all his friends, both clerical and lay, as well present as to come, sends greeting. Know ye all that I have granted, &c., to Matthew de Bromale, Bromale and Dokenfeld and two parts of Baguley, which his father held of me and my heirs in fee [Ijy the service] of a breastplate [meaning that heshould rendei- or pay for his lands a man armed with a breast- jilatc for militaiT defence, or its equivalent in money, at a later period, every year to him and his heirs, to hold of me and my heirs freely and quietly, &c., making to me and my heirs the free service in fee of one breastplate ; and know ye that I have quit claimed the said Matthew and his heirs and the aforesaid lands, to me and my heirs, of the service and custom which I, the said Hamo, usetl to demand from them, namely, of ploughing, mucking, and sowing corn, and of making hay, and doing homage of estovers [providing food], pannage, and of all other services except the service of the fee of one breastplate. These being witnesses : Eoger de Massie, William de Carington, Robert de Massie, and Richard de Fitton, and very many others, both seeing and hearing the same.”

Massy of Sale

Arms: Argent, a chevron between three lozenges Sable. " Crest: Out of a ducal coronet Or, a bull's head and neck ..................

Burke's GA records the crest as: Out of a ducal coronet Or, a bull's head erased Azure armed Gold

http://masseyfamgenealogy.tripod.com/a29.htm#i14812

"The second Hamon had issue Hamon, a son and heir, and Robert Massey, from whom sprang the Masseys of Sale. This is probably the Hamon Massey who is noticed in one of the ancient chronicles as having held the Castle of Dunham against Henry II. in 1173, during the rebellion of which Hugh Earl of Chester was principal leader. He gave the lands of Bramhall, or Bromale, to Matthew de Bromale by charter..."

Research Notes: From A History of Altrincham and Bowdon, p. 9:

"The second Hamon had issue Hamon, a son and heir, and Robert Massey, from whom sprang the Masseys of Sale. This is probably the Hamon Massey who is noticed in one of the ancient chronicles as having held the Castle of Dunham against Henry II. in 1173, during the rebellion of which Hugh Earl of Chester was principal leader. He gave the lands of Bramhall, or Bromale, to Matthew de Bromale by charter..."

Hamon married [Eleanor Beaumont] about 1124 in Dunham Massey, Bucklow, Cheshire, England. Eleanor was born about 1100 in Cheshire, England.

Research Notes: FamilySearch? Rootsweb? AFN: 18GS-7K2

Children from this marriage were:

+ 10 M i. John Massey was born about 1127 in Dunham Massey, Bucklow, Cheshire, England.

+ 11 M ii. Hamon III Massey 19 20 was born about 1129 in Dunham Massey, Bucklow, Cheshire, England and died about 1216 in Dunham Massey, Bucklow, Cheshire, England about age 87.

+ 12 M iii. Robert Massey was born about 1130 in Dunham Massey, Bucklow, Cheshire, England.

References

1. Mike Nevell (1997). The Archaeology of Trafford. Trafford Metropolitan Borough with University of Manchester Archaeological Unit. p. 27. ISBN 1-870695-25-9.
2. Thomas Christopher Banks, The Dormant and Extinct Baronage of England (1807:206): "6. Massey, or Dunham Massey"