Not the same as John "Monoculus" FitzNigel

John fitzRichard was an Anglo-Norman nobleman who became a landowner in England following the Norman Conquest (1066).

Biography

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_fitzRichard

He was a son of Richard fitzRanulf, and nephew of Waleran fitzRanulf, whose father Ranulf 'the Moneyer' had bought the mill at Vains, Normandy in 1035.[1] A 14th-century document from the cartulary of Malton priory refers to John as brother of Serlo de Burgo, but contemporary evidence indicates this is probably false.[2] John, who was apparently born by 1056, seized the mill of Vains, Normandy in 1076. The King's Court of William I of England ruled against the seizure, returning the mill to the Abbey of Mont-Saint-Michel.[3][4] In the 1086 Domesday survey as 'John, nephew of Waleran', he was reported holding Carbrooke, Hunstanton, Ringstead, Rushford, Saxlingham, Thurton, Walpole (St Andrew and St Peter) in Norfolk and Elsenham in Essex. He also held as tenant in chief: Brettenham, Griston and West Carbrooke in Norfolk.[5]

Marriage and issue

John fitzJohn is known to have had the following issue (3 sons, 2 daughters):

1. Payn (Pain) fitzJohn of Ewyas (died 1137); eldest son; married Sybil Lacy.
2. Eustace fitzJohn, lord of Knaresborough and Halton (died 1157); heir to his brother Payn; married 1) Beatrix Vesci 2) Agnes, daughter of William, Constable of Chester.
3. William fitzJohn (died 1172); married Denise de Magneville
4. Alice, abbess of Barking Abbey
5. Agnes, married Roger de Valognes

   ---

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/FitzRichard-72

John was sometimes referred to as John the nephew of Waleran (John nepos Waleran), notably in Domesday Book, made in 1086. In other records he is called John the son of Richard (John fitz Richard).

Keats-Rohan has an entry for him, "Johannes Nepos Waleranni", which is how he is described in Domesday Book:[1]

Norman, son of Richard fitz Ranulf the Moneyer of Caen and nephew of Waleran fitz Ranulf; holder of a minor tenancy-in-chief in Domesday East Anglia.

His Domesday holdings can be seen listed and mapped on various websites.

• PASE profile: http://domesday.pase.ac.uk/Domesday?op=5&personkey=41953
• Open Domesday profile: https://opendomesday.org/name/john-nephew-of-waleran/

Complete Peerage, gives a lot of detail about him and his family, and contains a special Appendix about them, aimed at resolving some old confusions. (See below.) John's entry gives the following information:[2]

• John was son and heir of his father Richard, and he is often referred to as John fitz Richard in documents.
• He was probably born before 1056 because in 1076 "he suddenly claimed and seized the mill of Vains, but after a trial before the King’s Court judgement was delivered against him".[3]
• "As John son of Richard he gave the tithe of Saxlingham, Norfolk, to St. Peter's Abbey, Gloucester, in the time of Abbot Serlon (1072-1103/4)."[4] In 1086, his Domesday estates in Norfolk included the manor of Saxlingham which included this church.[5]
• Also, "as John nepos Walerami (sic) he held also the single manor of Elsenham (“Alsenham”), in Essex in chief, and a carucate and a half at Saxlingham afsd. of the abbot of St. Benet of Holme".[6]
• Complete Peerage proposed that he might have been called “nepos Walerami” in Domesday Book because his lands described there had perhaps been held by Waleran during his minority.
• He is said to have been given the advowson of Hockham church, Norfolk, by Roger Bigod (d. 1107).[7]
• Nothing is known of his marriage, death or burial.

Family

Keats-Rohan says he had "five children, possibly by two wives", who "achieved some importance during the reign of Henry I". The three sons in particular attained special positions as officers of King Henry I, and the Payn and Eustace are especially well-known. Complete Peerage also lists them in a footnote.[8] Giving sons first, then daughters:

1. Payn FitzJohn
2. Eustace FitzJohn.
3. William FitzJohn. Complete Peerage remarks that he "became an officer of Henry I like his brothers and acted as one of his stewards and a justiciar in Normandy." For his activities Complete Peerage refers to the works of Farrer and Harcourt about the administration of this period, as well as Henry I's 1129/30 Pipe Roll.[9] Complete Peerage also states this is the same William FitzJohn who held Harptree Castle, Somerset, against King Stephen in 1138.[10]
4. Alice, Abbess of Barking, who was already abbess in 1137.[11]
5. Agnes, married Roger de Valognes and was a widow in 1185, her age being given as 50 or "60 and more". Agnes de Valoines is referred to at least once as a sister of Payn fitz John.[12] Complete Peerage suggests that because of this age, "she may have been daughter of a 2nd marriage".

A cousin also named John

Complete Peerage Vol. 12 part 2, Appendix B:

At the Domesday survey a tenant-in-chief named John, s. of Waleran or Waleram, held lands in Cambridgeshire, Essex and Suffolk; and another named John, nepos of Waleram [i.e. Waleran], held lands in Essex and Norfolk. With the exception of the land in London, and of Panfield, Essex, held by the abbey of St. Stephen, Caen,(f) interests in all the places where Waleran, s. of Ranulf, had given tithe to St. Stephen’s were held by one or other of these two Johns. Thus John, s. of Waleran, held land in Teversham and Fulbourn, co. Cambridge, a manor in Aveley, Essex, land in the Essex portion of Bures St. Mary, and land in Bures St. Mary, Suffolk;(g) and John, nepos of Waleran, held a manor in Elsenham, Essex.(a) It is therefore established that Waleran, whose son John and whose nepos John were these two tenants-in-chief, was Waleran, s, of Ranulf Older theories about ancestry

Note: In Appendix B, Vol. 12 part 2, the Complete Peerage gives evidence and a lengthy discussion, disproving a long held belief that John was brother of Serlo de Burg (and therefore son of Eustace de Burgo). CP also states that John's son Eustace FitzJohn was called Monoculus, possibly as a hereditary nickname from his father, but potentially in place of his father.

The nickname Monoculus (one eye)

Concerning nicknames often reported on the internet, Complete Peerage gives a special remark:

One further point relating to Eustace FitzJohn can be noted. Dugdale, citing Glover’s collections, stated that John his father was called ‘monoculus.’(a) Roger of Howden, however, described Eustace as ‘luscus et proditor nequam’;(b) and in the Alnwick Chronicle there is a reference to Eustace ‘viro strenuo ac nobili licet monoculo.’(c) Unless, therefore, it was a case of an hereditary nickname, there seems to have been a confusion, dating from Glover, between father and son.

concerns

From Stirnet's "Vesey01" page (1st Stirnet link below): "The ancestry of this John was confused by early sources who suggested that he was brother of Serlo de Burgh of Knaresborough Cast<l>e, probably because Knaresborough later came under the control of John's son Eustace. This view is reported in BE1883 (Clavering), supported by BE1883 (Vesci), but was specifically considered and rejected by TCP which dedicated a whole appendix to the origin of Eustace FitzJohn (Appendix B in Volume XII/2). Some web sites identify John's father as Nigel of Halton, Constable of Chester. That appears to be the result of a confusion with John's son Eustace's father-in-law by his second marriage to Agnes who was daughter of William FitzNigel (FitzNiel) of Halton."

(The aforementioned means that this John is the same as John "Monoculus" FitzNigel. Merge must be performed by a curator.)

comments

Date and place of birth have also been (erroneously?) reported to be 1060 at Knaresborough, Yorkshire, England (unattested).

links

• https://stirnet.com/genie/data/british/uv/vesey01.php#top (membership required in order to view without interruption)
• https://stirnet.com/genie/support/gensuppl/gentraps.php#top
• FamilySearch AFN 9BKC-Z8

content to clean up

John FitzRichard

NOTE: often confused with John FitzNigell also known as "Monoculus" (actually "John FitzNigell" is just a mutant version of himself)

• Father: Richard fitzRanulf (this family is connected to the de Vesci family - citation needed")
• Mother: Unknown
• Spouse: Unknown
• Issue: Payn, Eustace, William, Adelais (Alice), Abbess of Barking, Agnes FitzJohn married Roger de Valoines

http://fmg.ac/Projects/MedLands/ENGLISHNOBILITYMEDIEVAL3T-Z.htm

1. RANULF (-before 1061). A charter of Guillaume II Duke of Normandy dated 1061 records that the abbot of Mont Saint-Michel had wrongfully sold property to “Ralf the moneyer”[764]. Another document dealing with the same matter also records that the abbot of Mont Saint-Michel had wrongfully sold property to “Ranulf the moneyer” but that it was inherited by “Gualeran son of Ranulf” who sold it back to the abbey[765]. m ---. The name of Ranulf’s wife is not known. Ranulf & his wife had four children:

a) OSBERN . “…Rannulfus Monetarius et Osbernus filius eius…” witnessed an undated charter of “Roger son of Hugh bishop of Coutances” for the abbey of Saint-Amand, Rouen[766].

b) WALERAN . A document records that the abbot of Mont Saint-Michel had wrongfully sold property to “Ranulf the moneyer” but that it was inherited by “Gualeran son of Ranulf” who sold it back to the abbey[767]. The charter dated 1080 which records the foundation of Caen Sainte-Trinité, before 1066, lists property including that sold by "Waleranno filio Rannulfi monetarii" in Caen and "in Amblida unum molendinum et illam terram quam frater suus Conanus in eaden villa tenuit in alodio"[768].

c) [RICHARD . No direct proof has been found that Richard was the son of Ranulf. However, this parentage is inferred from a document which records that the abbot of Mont Saint-Michel had wrongfully sold property to “Ranulf the moneyer”, that it was inherited by “Gualeran son of Ranulf” who sold it back to the abbey, that it was claimed by “John of Richard” who “some fifteen years…later” seized the property, and that judgment in the ensuing dispute was awarded to the abbey[769]. In addition, Richard’s son is named “Johannes nepos Walerami” (presumably Waleran, son of Ranulf, see above) in his capacity as holder of the manor of Elsenham, Essex in Domesday Book[770], although this phrase does not exclude the possibility that the relationship was through a sister of Waleran and that Richard was her husband.] m ---. The name of Richard’s wife is not known. Richard & his wife had one child:

i) JOHN . A document records that the abbot of Mont Saint-Michel had wrongfully sold property to “Ranulf the moneyer” but that it was inherited by “Gualeran son of Ranulf” who sold it back to the abbey, that it was claimed by “John of Richard” who “some fifteen years…later” seized the property, judgment in the ensuing dispute being awarded to the abbey[771].
- see below.

d) CONAN . The charter dated 1080 which records the foundation of Caen Sainte-Trinité, before 1066, lists property including that sold by "Waleranno filio Rannulfi monetarii" in Caen and "in Amblida unum molendinum et illam terram quam frater suus Conanus in eaden villa tenuit in alodio"[772].

———————

JOHN, son of [RICHARD & his wife ---] . A document records that the abbot of Mont Saint-Michel had wrongfully sold property to “Ranulf the moneyer” but that it was inherited by “Gualeran son of Ranulf” who sold it back to the abbey, that it was claimed by “John of Richard” who “some fifteen years…later” seized the property, judgment in the ensuing dispute being awarded to the abbey[773]. A manuscript concerning the founders of Watton priory records that “Johannis pater primi Eustachii et Serlo de Burgo, sive de Pembrok” were brothers[774]. The Complete Peerage sets out the arguments which refute this hypothesis[775]. m ---. The name of John’s wife is not known.

John & his wife had five children:

1. PAYN FitzJohn of Ewyas, Herefordshire (before 1100-killed 10 Jul 1137, bur Gloucester Abbey). "…Pag fil Johis…" subscribed the charter dated to [10 Apr/29 May] 1121 which records the arrangements for the marriage of "Miloni de Gloec" and "Sibilia filia Beorndi de Novo Mercato"[776]. "…Pag fil Johis…" subscribed the charter date [3/10] Jun 1123 under which Henry I King of England granted the lands of "Edrici fil Chetelli" to "Walto de Gloec"[777]. A charter of King Henry I dated 1133 is witnessed by Payn FitzJohn, Eustache and William his brothers[778]. Sheriff of Hereford and Shropshire. The Gesta Stephani Regis records that "Paganus filius Joannis…et Milo" were killed, dated to [1137/40][779].

m (before [1125]%29 as her first husband, SIBYLLA de Lacy, daughter of --- (-after [1140]). The date of her marriage is estimated from the dating of her older daughter’s first marriage to “before [Dec 1137/May 1138]”. “Sibilla de Lacy” notified her bailiffs and foresters that she had donated “land of Leghe near the church of St Michael” to “my uncle Walter abbot of Gloucester”, for the souls of “myself and my husband Payne Fitz-john”, by charter dated to [1130/39][780]. "Rogo filio Milonis Gloec et Cecilie uxori sue filie Pag fil Johis" the lands of her father, including land which "Pag dedit Sibille uxoris sue in dote", by charter dated to [Dec 1137/May 1138][781]. Roger Bishop of Salisbury instructed "Sibille q fuit uxor Pag fil Johis" to restore property which her husband had granted to "Rogo fil Milon Gloec cum Cecilia filia tua p-mogenita" by charter dated 1138[782]. She married secondly (after 1138) Joscelin de Dinan. Her second marriage is confirmed by two charters of St. Guthlac’s priory, Hereford: in the first, “Sybil de Laceo” donated land at “Parva Frome” in Herefordshire, while in the second Sibylla “domina de Lodel” donated further land in the same place “ex proprio jure hereditare mee” with the consent of “domini mei Gozonis de Dinan”[783]. It is assumed that Sibylla survived for at least two years after her second marriage as her second husband is recorded as having had two children. No source has been identified which confirms that Sibylla was their mother, although the naming of the younger child after her is indicative.

Payn & his wife had two children:

a) CECILY ([before 1126]-1207[784]). A manuscript narrating the foundation of Lilleshall Abbey, Shropshire records that “Rogerus comes Hereford” married “vicecomes Paganus…filiam”[785]. Her birth date is estimated from the dating of her first marriage. King Stephen confirmed to "Rogo filio Milonis Gloec et Cecilie uxori sue filie Pag fil Johis" the lands of her father by charter dated to [Dec 1137/May 1138][786]. Heiress of Swanscombe, Kent. The primary source which confirms her second marriage has not yet been identified. "Walter de Maine" confirmed the donation of land in Perriton to Bruton by undated charter witnessed by "Cecilia comitissa uxore mea…"[787]. "Walterus de Meduana" confirmed to King Henry II that he held "in capite...xx milites" in Kent which “Galfridus Tallebot” had held on the death of King Henry I, dated 1166[788]. The Red Book of the Exchequer, listing scutage payments in [1190/91], records "comitissa Hereford quæ fuit uxor Walteri de Meduana" paying "xiv l x s de scutagio militum de veteri feffamento xxix milites" in Kent[789]. Bracton records a claim in 1232 made by “Warinus de Monte Canisio” against “Adam de Kailly et Mabiliam uxorem eius...Isabellam de Friuilla...Matillidem Giffard” for land “in Luddeduna” inherited from “Cecilia [...comitissa] antecess sua...quia obiit sine herede de se descendit...Agneti...sorori et heredi et quia ipse Willelmus obiit sine herede...de se descendit...isti Warino...fratri et heredi suo”, and that the defendants replied that “Cecilia comitissa” had given the land, which “Willelmus de Pictavia...virum suum” held for one knight’s fee, to “Ricardo Giffard patri predictarum Mabilie et Isabelle...Osbertus filius Ricardi” and that “mortuo predicto Willelmo” Cecilia had married “Walterum de Meinne”[790].
m firstly (before [Dec 1137/May 1138]) ROGER FitzMiles, son of MILES Earl of Hereford & his wife Sibylle de Neufmarché (-1155, bur Llanthony Priory, Gloucester). He succeeded his father in 1143 as Earl of Hereford.
m secondly GUILLAUME de Poitou, son of ---. m thirdly (before 1166) GAUTHIER de Mayenne, son of JUHEL Seigneur de Mayenne & his wife Clémence de Ponthieu (-before 1191).
b) AGNES (-after 1185). The Rotuli de Dominabus of 1185 records property “Holkham” held by “Agnes de Muntchenesy…lx annorum…filia Pagani filii Johannis”, adding that she had “iii filios primogenitus…Radulphus et secundus Willelmus…ambo milites, tertius…Hubertus…clericus…[et] ii filias…una nupta Stephano de Glanville et altera Willemo Painel”[791]. The primary source which confirms her second marriage has not yet been identified. Bracton records a claim in 1232 made by “Warinus de Monte Canisio” against “Adam de Kailly et Mabiliam uxorem eius...Isabellam de Friuilla...Matillidem Giffard” for land “in Luddeduna” inherited from “Cecilia [...comitissa] antecess sua...quia obiit sine herede de se descendit...Agneti...sorori et heredi et quia ipse Willelmus obiit sine herede...de se descendit...isti Warino...fratri et heredi suo”, and that the defendants replied that “Cecilia comitissa” had given the land, which “Willelmus de Pictavia...virum suum” held for one knight’s fee, to “Ricardo Giffard patri predictarum Mabilie et Isabelle...Osbertus filius Ricardi” and that “mortuo predicto Willelmo” Cecilia had married “Walterum de Meinne”[792].
m firstly WARIN [I] de Munchensy, son of HUBERT [I] de Munchensy & his second wife Muriel de Valoignes (-before 1162).
m secondly (1162) HALENALD de Bidun, son of HALENALD de Bidun & his wife --- (-before 1185).

2. EUSTACE FitzJohn (before 1100-1157). A charter of King Henry I dated 1133 is witnessed by Payn FitzJohn, Eustache and William his brothers[793]. "…Eustachius filius Johannis…" witnessed the charter of Ramsey abbey dated to [1133/37] which records that "Walterus de Bolebeche…Heylenius uxor sua et Hugo filius suus" donated "terram de Waltone"[794]. "Walter de Gaunt" founded Bridlington priory, with the assent of Henry I King of England, by undated charter, witnessed by "…Eustace FitzJohn…"[795]. An undated charter records the foundation of Alnwick Abbey, Northumberland by ”Eustachius filius Johannis”, for the soul of “Ivonis de Vescy” and the health of “Willielmi de Vescy filii mei”[796]. “Eustachius filius Johannis…et uxor mea Agneta” founded Watton priory by charter dated to [1150][797].

m firstly BEATRICE de Vescy, daughter of YVES de Vescy Lord of Alnwick and Malton, Yorkshire & his wife [Alda Tyson]. A manuscript concerning the founders of Watton priory records the marriage of “Eustachius filius Johannis” and “filia et hærede Ivonis de Vescey”, adding that she died giving birth to their son William[798]. An undated charter recording the foundation of Alnwick Abbey, Northumberland recites a donation by ”Willielmi de Vescy, filii Eustachii, filii Johannis”, for the souls of “patris mei Eustachii et matris meæ Beatricis”[799].

m secondly as her first husband, AGNES, daughter of WILLIAM FitzNeel Constable of Chester, Baron of Halton & his wife ---. “Eustachius filius Johannis…et uxor mea Agneta” founded Watton priory by charter dated to [1150][800]. “Agnes filia Willelmi constabularii Cestrie” confirmed an exchange of property made by “dominus Eustachius vir meus” with the nuns of Watton, for the souls of “Ricardi filii mei et Galfridi”, by charter dated to [1150/57], witnessed by “…Rogerus filius Willelmi constabularii…”[801]. Agnes married secondly (after 1157) Robert FitzCount.

Eustace & his first wife had two children:

a) WILLIAM de Vescy (-before Nov 1183, bur Alnwick Abbey). A manuscript concerning the founders of Watton priory names “Willielmum” as son of “Eustachius filius Johannis” and his wife “filia et hærede Ivonis de Vescey”, adding that he adopted the name Vescy from his mother’s family[802].
- see below.

b) [AUBREYE] (-after [1165/75]). Her family origin is indicated by the charter dated to [1180/93] under which [her son] “Robertus de Lasci” granted property “in Magna Merclesdene” [Great Marsden] in fee to “Willelmo filio Eustachii avunculo meo”[803]. Wightman says that her name “Aubreye” is based only on a 16th century source[804]. The grantee is identified as William de Vescy (died before Nov 1183) by an undated charter (dated to [1215], which appears incongruous considering the chronology of the Vescy family) under which his descendant “Willelmus de Vesci” donated land “in Merkisdene quam Robertus Mey...de me tenuit” [apparently the same property] to Pontefract St. John[805]. The question of the family origin of the wife of Henry de Lacy has been somewhat confused by a later manuscript history of the Lacy family, which records that “Henricus Lacy” married “sororem Willielmi Vesci rectoris de Berwic”[806]. The editor of the Early Yorkshire Charters compilation identifies this person as “William de Vescy, sometime parson of Barwick-in-Elmet”[807], presumably based on a misinterpretation of “rector”. In conclusion, assuming that “avunculus” in the [1180/93] charter can be interpreted in its strict sense of maternal uncle and also that [Aubreye] and William de Vescy shared both parents, Henry’s wife was the daughter of Eustace FitzJohn by his first marriage. The possibility of an earlier marriage of [Aubreye] is raised by the same manuscript history of the Lacy family which records that “Albreda vel Aubreia, filia Roberti Lisours, soror ex parte matris” succeeded on the death of “Robertus Lacy”[808]. If that is correct, Aubreye’s father was an earlier husband of Robert de Lacy’s mother. However, this appears disproved by the Rotuli de Dominabus of 1185 which records “Alicia que fuit uxor Fulconis de Lisoriis et soror Willielmi de Auberville"[809], apparently the mother of Robert de Lisours. “Henricus de Laceio et uxor mea” confirmed a donation to York St. Peter by charter dated to [1165/75][810]. m HENRY de Lacy, son of ROBERT de Lacy & his wife Matilda --- (-Holy Land 25 Sep 1177).

Eustace & his second wife had two children:

c) RICHARD FitzEustace (-1163). “Agnes filia Willelmi constabularii Cestrie” confirmed an exchange of property made by “dominus Eustachius vir meus” with the nuns of Watton, for the souls of “Ricardi filii mei et Galfridi”, by charter dated to [1150/57], witnessed by “…Rogerus filius Willelmi constabularii…”[811]. - see below.
d) GEOFFREY FitzEustace . “Willelmus de Vescy” confirmed donations made by “pater meus Eustachius filius Johannis” to the nuns of Watton, for the souls of “patris mei et uxoris sue Agnetis et…matris mee et fratrum meorum Ricardi et Gaufridi”, by charter dated to [1150/57], witnessed by “domino patre meo Eustachio…”[812]. “Agnes filia Willelmi constabularii Cestrie” confirmed an exchange of property made by “dominus Eustachius vir meus” with the nuns of Watton, for the souls of “Ricardi filii mei et Galfridi”, by charter dated to [1150/57], witnessed by “…Rogerus filius Willelmi constabularii…”[813].

3. WILLIAM FitzJohn (-after 1133). A charter of King Henry I dated 1133 is witnessed by Payn FitzJohn, Eustache and William his brothers[814]. Steward and justiciar of King Henry I in Normandy. same person as…? WILLIAM FitzJohn (-after 1166). Military fee certifications in the Red Book of the Exchequer, in 1166, records the seven knights fees held by "Willelmus filius Johannis" from the king in Dorset "de honore Moretoniæ"[815].

4. ADELAIS . King Stephen granted Barking abbey to "Adel[ide] sorori Pag[ani] filii Joh[annis]" by charter dated to [1136/Aug 1138], witnessed by "…E[ustachio] filio Joh[annis]"[816]. Abbess of Barking.

5. AGNES ([1125]-after 1185). “Rogerus de Valoniis” confirmed the foundation of Binham monastery by “patris mei Petri de Valoniis”, by undated charter, probably dated to after 1135, witnessed by "Agnes de Valoniis uxor mea, Petrus et Robertus et Gaufridus et Johannes filii mei…"[817]. “Petrus de Valoniis” confirmed donations to Binham monastery by “Petrus…de Valoniis avus meus et…pater meus Rogerus”, by undated charter dated to after 1154, witnessed by "Agnes de Valoniis, Robertus et Gaufredus et Rogerus et Johannes et Philippus de Valoniis…"[818]. “Agnes de Valoniis” notified “filio suo Petro...ceterisque filiis suis” of her donation of “terre mee de Westleye” made to Binham priory, for the souls of “domini mei R. et...mea et...fratris mei Pagani...filiorum filiarumque...meorum” by undated charter, witnessed by “...Rogerus de Valoniis et Johannes frater eius, Fulquius de Munpincun et Radulfus filius eius...”[819]. “Robertus de Valoniis” confirmed donations to Binham monastery by “Petrus de Valoniis avus meus et Rogerus pater meus et Petrus de Valoniis frater meus et domina Agnes mater mea”, with the advice of "dominæ Agnetis matris meæ et Hadæwisæ uxoris meæ", by undated charter[820]. The Rotuli de Dominabus of 1185 records property “Hortfurdburia et Hochwelle” held by “Agnes de Valeines…l annorum”, property “Hecham et Leic” held by “Agnes de Valuines…plusquam lx annorum”, and “Redefelde” held by “Agnes de Valuines…soror Pagani filii Johannis” adding that her heir is “filia eius et heres data est Durando de Ostili”[821]. The Complete Peerage says that her age suggests that she may have been the daughter of a second marriage[822]. m ROGER de Valoignes, son of PIERRE de Valoignes & his wife Agnes --- (-[1141/42]).

--------------------------------

Tim Powys-Lybbe writes in his notes in May 2010:

Or "John nepos Waleran".

Burke says he was called John Monoculus as he had lost an eye. CP also gives him this name.

Keats-Rohan calls his son Pagan "son of John nephew of Waleran, a Domesday tenant in Essex" - and this led me to find John, with a mention of his father Radulf in Domesday people p. 284...

K-R: "son of Richard fitz Ranulf the Moneyer of Caen and nephew of Waleran fitz ranulf" and she lists his five children: Payn, Eustache, William and Alice, abbess of Barking, and Alice [PW: should be Agnes], wife of Roger de Valoignes. And she then led me to CP's Vescy article where many of them are listed in even greater detail.

Paul Remfry at his talk on 31 Oct 2009 at the AGM of the FMG firmly asserted that this John m. a daughter of Ralph de Mortimer (d. c. 1130).

Children of John "Monoculus" were:

   * Eustace Fitz John b abt 1080. See LINE A

   * Payn Fitz John b at 1089. See LINE B

   * Agnes Fitz John b abt 1096, of Yorkshire, England. She md Roger de Valoignes abt 1114, son of Peter de Valoignes and Albreda de Saint-Sauveur.

Notes:

a. Known as John "Monoculus", a Domesday tenant, CP states he was the son of one "John the Moneyer". But recent findings indicate he was the son of Richard Fitz Ranulph and nephew of Waleran Fitz Ranulph, another Domesday tenant.

SOURCES:

CP Vol VII[675-680 and lineage chart therein], Vol IX[424-426], Vol XII/2[269-274]; AR: Line 246D[26-28], Line 54[29-30]; SGM: Dave Utzinger, Christopher Nash, Gordon Fisher[ref: The Lacy Family in England and Normandy, 1066-1194, by W. E. Wightman], Douglas Richardson; Royal Ancestry of the Warkworths, contributors Michael Anne Guido, John Ravilious, Andrew B.W. MacEwen, et al.

He was a great feudal baron and friend of King Henry I, who gave him great grants of land and the governorship of Bamburgh Castle in Northumberland. He was later deprived of Bamburgh by King Stephen, even though his wife was the king's aunt.

Please see Darrell Wolcott: The Evolution of the "Padriarc Brenin" Pedigree; http://www.ancientwalesstudies.org/id72.html. Wolcott charts this man, John de Burgo, as a son of Eustace of Conteville, known as Eustace fitz John in the Roll of Battle Abbey. (Steven Ferry, October 3, 2019.)

Please see Darrell Wolcott: Aaron Paen ap Y Paen Hen; http://www.ancientwalesstudies.org/id65.html. (Steven Ferry, July 5, 2020.)

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John "nepos Waleran" FitzRichard
Born before 1056 [location unknown] Son of Richard FitzRanulph and Unknown (deLacy, Moneyer) FitzRanulf Husband of Magdalen (Blois) FitzRichard — married 1078 in St Marys Church, Bologne, Picardie, Francemap Father of William FitzJohn, Eustace FitzJohn, Payn FitzJohn of Ewyas and Agnes (FitzJohn) de Valoines Died 1138 [location unknown]

Biography

John was sometimes referred to as John the nephew of Waleran (John nepos Waleran), notably in Domesday Book, made in 1086. In other records he is called John the son of Richard (John fitz Richard).

Keats-Rohan has an entry for him, "Johannes Nepos Waleranni", which is how he is described in Domesday Book:[1]

Norman, son of Richard fitz Ranulf the Moneyer of Caen and nephew of Waleran fitz Ranulf; holder of a minor tenancy-in-chief in Domesday East Anglia. His Domesday holdings can be seen listed and mapped on various websites.

PASE profile: http://domesday.pase.ac.uk/Domesday?op=5&personkey=41953 Open Domesday profile: https://opendomesday.org/name/john-nephew-of-waleran/ Complete Peerage, gives a lot of detail about him and his family, and contains a special Appendix about them, aimed at resolving some old confusions. (See below.) John's entry gives the following information:[2]

John was son and heir of his father Richard, and he is often referred to as John fitz Richard in documents. He was probably born before 1056 because in 1076 "he suddenly claimed and seized the mill of Vains, but after a trial before the King’s Court judgement was delivered against him".[3] "As John son of Richard he gave the tithe of Saxlingham, Norfolk, to St. Peter's Abbey, Gloucester, in the time of Abbot Serlon (1072-1103/4)."[4] In 1086, his Domesday estates in Norfolk included the manor of Saxlingham which included this church.[5] Also, "as John nepos Walerami (sic) he held also the single manor of Elsenham (“Alsenham”), in Essex in chief, and a carucate and a half at Saxlingham afsd. of the abbot of St. Benet of Holme".[6] Complete Peerage proposed that he might have been called “nepos Walerami” in Domesday Book because his lands described there had perhaps been held by Waleran during his minority. He is said to have been given the advowson of Hockham church, Norfolk, by Roger Bigod (d. 1107).[7] Nothing is known of his marriage, death or burial.

Keats-Rohan says he had "five children, possibly by two wives", who "achieved some importance during the reign of Henry I". The three sons in particular attained special positions as officers of King Henry I, and the Payn and Eustace are especially well-known. Complete Peerage also lists them in a footnote.[8] Giving sons first, then daughters:

Payn FitzJohn Eustace FitzJohn. William FitzJohn. Complete Peerage remarks that he "became an officer of Henry I like his brothers and acted as one of his stewards and a justiciar in Normandy." For his activities Complete Peerage refers to the works of Farrer and Harcourt about the administration of this period, as well as Henry I's 1129/30 Pipe Roll.[9] Complete Peerage also states this is the same William FitzJohn who held Harptree Castle, Somerset, against King Stephen in 1138.[10] Alice, Abbess of Barking, who was already abbess in 1137.[11] Agnes, married Roger de Valognes and was a widow in 1185, her age being given as 50 or "60 and more". Agnes de Valoines is referred to at least once as a sister of Payn fitz John.[12] Complete Peerage suggests that because of this age, "she may have been daughter of a 2nd marriage".

A cousin also named John...

Complete Peerage Vol. 12 part 2, Appendix B:

At the Domesday survey a tenant-in-chief named John, s. of Waleran or Waleram, held lands in Cambridgeshire, Essex and Suffolk; and another named John, nepos of Waleram [i.e. Waleran], held lands in Essex and Norfolk. With the exception of the land in London, and of Panfield, Essex, held by the abbey of St. Stephen, Caen,(f) interests in all the places where Waleran, s. of Ranulf, had given tithe to St. Stephen’s were held by one or other of these two Johns. Thus John, s. of Waleran, held land in Teversham and Fulbourn, co. Cambridge, a manor in Aveley, Essex, land in the Essex portion of Bures St. Mary, and land in Bures St. Mary, Suffolk;(g) and John, nepos of Waleran, held a manor in Elsenham, Essex.(a) It is therefore established that Waleran, whose son John and whose nepos John were these two tenants-in-chief, was Waleran, s, of Ranulf Older theories about ancestry

Note: In Appendix B, Vol. 12 part 2, the Complete Peerage gives evidence and a lengthy discussion, disproving a long held belief that John was brother of Serlo de Burg (and therefore son of Eustace de Burgo). CP also states that John's son Eustace FitzJohn was called Monoculus, possibly as a hereditary nickname from his father, but potentially in place of his father.

The nickname Monoculus (one eye)

Concerning nicknames often reported on the internet, Complete Peerage gives a special remark:

One further point relating to Eustace FitzJohn can be noted. Dugdale, citing Glover’s collections, stated that John his father was called ‘monoculus.’(a) Roger of Howden, however, described Eustace as ‘luscus et proditor nequam’;(b) and in the Alnwick Chronicle there is a reference to Eustace ‘viro strenuo ac nobili licet monoculo.’(c) Unless, therefore, it was a case of an hereditary nickname, there seems to have been a confusion, dating from Glover, between father and son. Sources

↑ Keats-Rohan, Domesday People, p.284 ↑ Complete Peerage, Vol.12, part 2, pp.269-70. ↑ J.H. Round ed., Calendar of documents preserved in France, illustrative of the history of Great Britain and Ireland, Vol.1, no. 712, pp.253-254. ↑ Historia et cartularium Monasterii Sancti Petri Gloucestriae, Rolls Series, vol. i, p.114; confirmed by Henry II (vol. i, p. 351 ; vol. ii, p.127). ↑ Domesday Book, vol. ii, ff. 265b, 266. ↑ Domesday Book, , vol. ii, f. 94b; and vol. ii, f. 217. ↑ Complete Peerage, vol.9, p. 419, note “f.” ↑ Complete Peerage, Vol.12, part 2, pp.270, footnote d. ↑ Farrer, Outline Itinerary of Henry I, is supposed to contain scattered references to William; Pipe Roll, 31 Hen. I, pp. 13, 15, and 155; Harcourt, His Grace the Steward, p.59 gives a document where he is witness. ↑ Gesta Stephani, Rolls Series, pp.42-43. ↑ Dugdale, Monasticon Anglicanum, vol. i, p.437; Round, Geoffrey de Mandeville, p.378. ↑ Round ed., Rotuli de Dominabus et Pueris et Puellis, P.R.S., pp. 67, 77, 87. The Round edition is available on the familysearch website. In the older edition see pp. 36, 41, 46.

Charles Cawley, MEDLANDS: Profile. The Magna Charta Barons and their American Descendants, by Charles H. Browning, publ. 1898, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.