Chapter 2. SEIGNEURS de CHAOURCES (SOURCHES)

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The castle of Sourches en Saint-Symphorien, previously known as Chaources, is situated in the canton of Conlie in the present-day French département of la Sarthe, north-west of Le Mans. Cars and Ledru note that in medieval times there existed two castles of the same name, located close to each other, held by different families of seigneurs whom they suggest were descended from the brothers Bouchard [I] and Hugues [I] who are shown below[28]. The definitive reconstruction of this family is hampered by the number of references to individuals named Hugues. They have been separated for presentational purposes into six different persons. It is likely that there is considerable overlap, but it is not possible to ascertain with certainty the number of different persons named Hugues de Chaources who existed.

1. ERNAUD de Brizay (-after 1045). Cars and Ledru name “Simon de Brizay, présent en 1050 à la fondation du prieuré de Saint-André de Mirebeau, Bouchard seigneur de Sourches et Hugues seigneur de Marigné, tige des de Sourches seigneurs de Saint-Aignan, de Brûlon, de Malicorne et de Bernay” as the sons of “Ernauld de Brizay, vivant encore en 1045”[29]. He does cite the primary sources which confirm the affiliation and it is possible that is speculative. Ernaud´s three supposed sons are therefore shown in square brackets below. m ---. The name of Ernaud´s wife is not known. Ernaud & his wife had [three] children:

a) [SIMON de Brizay (-after 1050). Cars and Ledru name “Simon de Brizay, présent en 1050 à la fondation du prieuré de Saint-André de Mirebeau, Bouchard seigneur de Sourches et Hugues seigneur de Marigné, tige des de Sourches seigneurs de Saint-Aignan, de Brûlon, de Malicorne et de Bernay” as the sons of “Ernauld de Brizay, vivant encore en 1045”[30].]
b) [BOUCHARD [I] de Chaources . Cars and Ledru name “Simon de Brizay, présent en 1050 à la fondation du prieuré de Saint-André de Mirebeau, Bouchard seigneur de Sourches et Hugues seigneur de Marigné, tige des de Sourches seigneurs de Saint-Aignan, de Brûlon, de Malicorne et de Bernay” as the sons of “Ernauld de Brizay, vivant encore en 1045”[31]. "Burchardus de Cadurciis", gravely ill, donated "ecclesia Atteniaci" to Saint-Vincent du Mans, with the consent of "uxor eiusdem…Richeldis" and in the presence of "parvulo filio eius Hamelino", by charter dated to [1068/78][32]. "Gunherius de Cadurciis" donated "ecclesia Atteniaci" to Saint-Vincent du Mans, noting that "Bucchardus de Cadurciis" had donated one third interest in the church with the consent of "Hugone Cadurcino", by charter dated to [1067/78][33]. A charter dated to [1078] records a claim on "ecclesia Atteniaci" by "Johannes de Luciaco", adding that he had married "Hugonem de Resqul…neptem" and that the abbot of Saint-Vincent du Mans reached agreement with "Bucchardi" with the consent of "uxore sua Alsendi et filio eius Hugone"[34].] m RICHELDIS [Alsendis], daughter of ---. "Burchardus de Cadurciis" donated "ecclesia Atteniaci" to Saint-Vincent du Mans, with the consent of "uxor eiusdem…Richeldis" and in the presence of "parvulo filio eius Hamelino", by charter dated to [1068/78][35]. A charter dated to [1078] records a claim on "ecclesia Atteniaci" by "Johannes de Luciaco", adding that he had married "Hugonem de Resqul…neptem" and that the abbot of Saint-Vincent du Mans reached agreement with "Bucchardi" with the consent of "uxore sua Alsendi et filio eius Hugone"[36]. Bouchard [I] & his wife had two children:

i) HUGUES [II] . "Burchardus de Cadurciis", gravely ill, donated "ecclesia Atteniaci" to Saint-Vincent du Mans, with the consent of "uxor eiusdem…Richeldis" and in the presence of "parvulo filio eius Hamelino", by charter dated to [1068/78], the following charter in the cartulary recording the settlement of a dispute relating to the same property involving “Hugo filius supradicti Bucchardi”[37]. "Gunherius de Cadurciis" donated "ecclesia Atteniaci" to Saint-Vincent du Mans, noting that "Bucchardus de Cadurciis" had donated one third interest in the church with the consent of "Hugone Cadurcino", by charter dated to [1067/78][38]. A charter dated to [1078] records a claim on "ecclesia Atteniaci" by "Johannes de Luciaco", adding that he had married "Hugonem de Resqul…neptem" and that the abbot of Saint-Vincent du Mans reached agreement with "Bucchardi" with the consent of "uxore sua Alsendi et filio eius Hugone"[39].
ii) HAMELIN . "Burchardus de Cadurciis" donated "ecclesia Atteniaci" to Saint-Vincent du Mans, with the consent of "uxor eiusdem…Richeldis" and in the presence of "parvulo filio eius Hamelino", by charter dated to [1068/78][40].

c) [HUGUES [I] de Chaources . Cars and Ledru name “Simon de Brizay, présent en 1050 à la fondation du prieuré de Saint-André de Mirebeau, Bouchard seigneur de Sourches et Hugues seigneur de Marigné, tige des de Sourches seigneurs de Saint-Aignan, de Brûlon, de Malicorne et de Bernay” as the sons of “Ernauld de Brizay, vivant encore en 1045”[41]. He is named “Hugonis de Matrinniaco” in the charter of his son Patrice [I] dated to [1050] which is quoted below.] m ---. The name of Hugues´s wife is not known. Hugues [I] & his wife had one child:

i) PATRICE [I] de Chaources . A charter dated to [1050] records that “Patricius de Cadurcis filius Hugonis de Matrinniaco” became a monk at Saint-Pierre de la Couture, donated “villam...Lavariacum” with the consent of “Hugone et Goffrido utique suis filiis”, and that after he died “quidam sacerdos eius consanguineus...Rainaldus” also became a monk there and donated “capellam...in honore sancti Dionysii, non longe a castro Genide”, by undated charter dated to [1050][42]. m ---. The name of Patrick´s wife is not known. Patrick & his wife had two children:

(a) HUGUES [III] de Chaources . A charter dated to [1050] records that “Patricius de Cadurcis filius Hugonis de Matrinniaco” became a monk at Saint-Pierre de la Couture, donated “villam...Lavariacum” with the consent of “Hugone et Goffrido utique suis filiis”, by undated charter dated to [1050][43].
(b) GEOFFROY de Chaources . A charter dated to [1050] records that “Patricius de Cadurcis filius Hugonis de Matrinniaco” became a monk at Saint-Pierre de la Couture, donated “villam...Lavariacum” with the consent of “Hugone et Goffrido utique suis filiis”, by undated charter dated to [1050][44].

Sources

[28] Cars & Ledru (1887), Introduction, p. xvi, and pp. 2-3.

[29] Cars & Ledru (1887), p. 2.

[30] Cars & Ledru (1887), p. 2, citing Cartulaire de Bourgeuil (no precise citation reference).

[31] Cars & Ledru (1887), p. 2.

[32] Le Mans Saint-Vincent, Liber primus, 480, p. 276.

[33] Le Mans Saint-Vincent, Liber primus, 483, p. 278.

[34] Le Mans Saint-Vincent, Liber primus, 485, p. 279.

[35] Le Mans Saint-Vincent, Liber primus, 480, p. 276.

[36] Le Mans Saint-Vincent, Liber primus, 485, p. 279.

[37] Le Mans Saint-Vincent, Liber primus, 480, 481, pp. 276-7.

[38] Le Mans Saint-Vincent, Liber primus, 483, p. 278.

[39] Le Mans Saint-Vincent, Liber primus, 485, p. 279.

[40] Le Mans Saint-Vincent, Liber primus, 480, p. 276.

[41] Cars & Ledru (1887), pp. 2 and 19.

[42] Couture Saint-Pierre, XIV, p. 20.

[43] Couture Saint-Pierre, XIV, p. 20.

[44] Couture Saint-Pierre, XIV, p. 20.

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...we find a family of Chaources established in Maine in the 11th century. A charter of La Couture in 1164 has 'In castello de Cadurcis extra primum et minorem fossam ejusdem castelli.' (Happily the exterior of the old chateau of Chaources is preserved for us in a curious lithograph, dated 1690, bearing the character of a castle of mediaeval times.) In the year 1050, Bouchard de Chaources was a witness to a donation made to the Priory of Laval.

In 1063 the inhabitants of Maine had been forced to accept the Norman yoke, and we find Bouchard by the side of Duke William at the assizes at Domfront in 1064.

In the expedition, which two years later was to give William the possession of England, everything points to the belief that Bouchard or some member of his family was at the battle of Hastings. (The name of Chaworth is on the roll of Battle Abbey.)

The male line, that of Bouchard de Chaources, shortly became extinct, but from his brother, Hugh, who assured to the Abbey of La Couture the possession of Saint Mars sous Ballon, 1090-1096, descended the family which eventually settled in England. Patrice l' Ancien, son of Hugh, took the monastic habit in the Abbey of La Couture at Le Mans, and was succeeded by his son, Hugh, probably the witness to a deed relating to the Abbey of St. Vincent, 1085.

[Source: http://www.nottshistory.org.uk/articles/tts/tts1903/chaworth/chawor... ]

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...we find a family of Chaources established in Maine in the 11th century. A charter of La Couture in 1164 has 'In castello de Cadurcis extra primum et minorem fossam ejusdem castelli.' (Happily the exterior of the old chateau of Chaources is preserved for us in a curious lithograph, dated 1690, bearing the character of a castle of mediaeval times.) In the year 1050, Bouchard de Chaources was a witness to a donation made to the Priory of Laval.

In 1063 the inhabitants of Maine had been forced to accept the Norman yoke, and we find Bouchard by the side of Duke William at the assizes at Domfront in 1064.

In the expedition, which two years later was to give William the possession of England, everything points to the belief that Bouchard or some member of his family was at the battle of Hastings. (The name of Chaworth is on the roll of Battle Abbey.)

The male line, that of Bouchard de Chaources, shortly became extinct, but from his brother, Hugh, who assured to the Abbey of La Couture the possession of Saint Mars sous Ballon, 1090-1096, descended the family which eventually settled in England. Patrice l' Ancien, son of Hugh, took the monastic habit in the Abbey of La Couture at Le Mans, and was succeeded by his son, Hugh, probably the witness to a deed relating to the Abbey of St. Vincent, 1085.

[Source: http://www.nottshistory.org.uk/articles/tts/tts1903/chaworth/chawor... ]

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