Robert, 1st Baron Willoughby of Eresby

"ERESBY:" A MANOR OR HALL, NEVER A TOWN
For details, please review posted information at the bottom of this Overview

Medlands (12 May 2024): English Lords D–K; Cawley’s Case vs. Margaret’s Parentage

• "a) [MARGARET [Deincourt] ([1280/88?]-before 18 Oct 1333). The Complete Peerage names “Margaret, da. of Edmund (Deincourt), 1st Lord Deincourt, by Isabel, da. of Sir Reynold de Mohun…” as the wife of Robert de Willoughby, and their marriage “in or before 1303”[297]. However, as noted above, it is likely that Edmund Lord Deincourt had only one child who survived until adulthood. Nevertheless, Margaret, as one of his executors (see below), was clearly one of Lord Edmund’s closest relatives.
• The Second licence, cited above under Lord Edmund, named “heredibus predicti Edmundi” as his second substitute heirs, indicating that Edmund had indirect surviving heirs but probably no direct descendants besides his great-granddaughter Isabel (see above for fuller discussion of this point). Maybe Margaret was among those unnamed indirect heirs. If so, her being Edmund’s niece would be the closest family relationship after his descendants. If that is correct, as none of the sources cited below name her “Deincourt”, her mother could have been Edmund’s sister.
• Another possibility is that Margaret was born from the supposed second marriage of Lord Edmund, but this possibility seems inconsistent with his great-granddaughter Isabel being his sole heir, the fact which appears to have triggered the series of four licences which are cited above. Margaret’s birth date is estimated on the assumption that she married in 1303, or only a short time before, which appears consistent with the birth date of her older son (“6 Jan 1303/4”, recorded in the Complete Peerage[298]): this estimated [1280/88?] birth date is late for Isabel de Mohun (Lord Edmund’s [first] wife, see above) to have been Margaret’s mother.
  • [Note: By default and if one accepts Cawley's argument above, "Deincourt" might be Margaret's assumed maiden name.—Ken Shelley, 18 Oct 2024]
• A document dated 10 Jul 1310 records that Anthony Bishop of Durham granted “the manor of Lyllesford, co. Northampton, and the advowson of its church” to “Robert de Wylgheby, his kinsman, and Margaret his wife”[299].
• “Margaret, late the wife of Robert de Wylughby” appointed proxies to receive her dower in chancery, dated [1 Jun] 1317, and an order dated 28 Oct 1317 named “Margaret, late the wife of Robert de Wylughby, Master Philip de Wylughby, Roger de Malberthorp, and Thomas de Wylughby, executors of the will of the said Robert”[300]. A document dated 27 Apr 1327 records “William Deyncourt" [William Lord Deincourt, see below] owing money to “…Margaret, late the wife of Robert de Wilughby, and Thomas de Wilughby, executors of the will of Edmund Deyncourt [Edmund Lord Deincourt]”[301]. The Complete Peerage shows her date of death[302].
• m (1303 or before) [as his second wife?] ROBERT de Willoughby, son of WILLIAM de Willoughby & his wife Alice Beke ([1260/70]-before 25 Mar 1317). The Complete Peerage estimates his date of birth “[1250/60]” based on inquisitions after a writ dated 3 Mar "4 Edw II" [3 Mar 1311], following the death of "Anthony Bishop of Durham", which name “Robert de Wyluby [%E2%80%A6each aged 40…Robert 50 and more] and John de Harecourt [%E2%80%A6each aged 40…John aged 34 and more] are his kinsman and next heirs, and of full age”[303]. The different ages specified (which seem irreconcilable) suggest the possibility of an earlier marriage of William. “Dominis Eadmundo de Daymcourt, Roberto de Wilugby…militibus…” witnessed the charter dated 8 Jul 1310 under which “Philippus de Kyma” relinquished “iure patronatus prebende de Carletonkyme” in favour of the church of Lincoln[304]. He was summoned to Parliament in 1313, whereby he is held to have become Lord Willoughby[305].]"

Wikitree (1 Sep 2024): Robert Willoughby (1273–1317)

• Born / Died in Willoughby, Eresby, Lincolnshire, England [ <— What a muddled mélange! Eresby Manor was in Spilsby, not the town of Willoughby.
• Citing: Complete Peerage XII/2:657-8

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

The Historic Peerage of England: Exhibiting, under Alphabetical Arrangement... by Sir Nicholas Harris Nicolas, William Courthope. p. 510 – Google Books.

http://www.cracroftspeerage.co.uk/online/content/WilloughbyE1313.htm <— Dead Link

1. Robert [de Willoughby], 1st Baron Willoughby de Eresby

1st son of Sir William de Willoughby, of Willoughby, co. Lincoln, by his wife Alice Beke, 1st dau. and cohrss. of John [Beke], 1st Baron Beke

born c. 1250 - 1260
mar. Margaret Deincourt (d. bef. 18 Oct 1333), dau. of Edmund [Deincourt], 1st Baron Deincourt, by his wife Isabel de Mohun, dau. of Sir Reynold de Mohun, of Dunster, co. Somerset
died bef. 25 Mar 1317

createdby writ of summons 26 Jul 1313 Baron Willoughby de Eresby
suc. byson

2.John [de Willoughby], 2nd Baron Willoughby de Eresby born 6 Jan 1303/4

"Eresby:" Not a Town

• There's has never been town in Lincolnshire named "Eresby". However, Eresby Manor in Spilsby came to exist c.1276.
  • "Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as; Eresby Hall; Heresby"
    • NOTE: Before reading further, a review of the meaning of the words "in" and "at" is useful. If someone died "at" Jerusalem, the general locality of Jerusalem is where one died. Dying "in" Jerusalem is specific and not general.
  • "The remains of a C13 manor house, licensed 1276, altered during C15, were found during excavations. This was replaced by a C16 hall with associated formal garden, ponds and bowling green, which survive as earthworks, and a tree avenue. The manor of Eresby was held by the Willoughby family, also of Grimsthorpe Castle in the south of Lincolnshire.
  • In 1086 the land at Eresby which was previously held by Aschil, was in the possession of the Bishop of Durham. During the 12th century the land passed though marriage to the de Bec family and in 1296 John de Bec was granted a licence to crenellate the manor of Eresby. The manor stayed in the de Bec's family until the early 14th century when it passed by marriage to the Willoughby family. In the early 16th century it again passed by marriage to Charles Brandon who built a new house on the site replacing the old manor house."
• Summary: If a source suggests death or birth "at" (or "in"), they can only rightly be referring to Eresby Manor in Spilsby.