Robert FitzHarding, "the Devout"

A Sketch of the History of Berkeley, Its Castle, Church, and the Berkeley Family by James Herbert Cooke, Land Steward to the Right Hon. Lord Fitzhardinge. Gloucester: John Bellows. Bristol and Clifton: R. W. Bingham. Berkeley: G. Sinderby. 1875 (from https://www.rotwang.co.uk/hob_chapter_02.html)

Robert was the eldest son of Harding and succeeded him in his estates and in the office of Praepositus at Bristol. He rendered important services both with arms and money to the Empress Maud, daughter of Henry I, and her son Henry Plantagenet, afterwards Henry II, in their contest for the Crown with the usurper Stephen, to recompense which, Henry, on the ultimate success of his party, bestowed upon Robert the great Manor and Barony of Berkeley, which had been previously held from the crown by Roger (called Roger de Berkeley) the lord of Dursley. Roger however for some time held his inheritance by force of arms, and to settle the dispute the king gave Roger the Manor of Dursley in fee, on condition of his surrendering Berkeley to Robert; a double marriage was also arranged between the two families, Robert's eldest son Maurice marrying Alice the daughter of the Lord of Dursley, while Roger's son espoused [Helena] one of the daughters of Robert Fitzharding. After this they all seemed to have lived in peace, and the new lord of Berkeley took quiet possession of his castle and manors.

In 1140, Robert commenced the long series of benefactions to the church for which his family were so remarkable, by building and endowing the monastery of St. Augustine at Bristol, the church of which is now the Cathedral. It was consecrated and dedicated on Easter Day 1148, when Robert laid upon the high altar his deed of gift by which he endowed it with many fair manors and lands, which still form the endowment of the Bishopric. He died in 1170, and was buried in St. Augustine's, in a monk's habit and cowl, having some time previously become a regular Canon therein.

Berkeley Manuscripts: Abstracts and Extracts of Smyth's Lives of the Berkeley Family, MS
By Thomas Dudley Fosbroke (London, 1821), pp. 69-74 [on Googlebooks]

[Chart p. 72 showing children of Robert FitzHarding and Eve: Maurice, Nicholas, Robert de Were (Robertus Juvenis), Thomas, Henry, Helena, Aldena]

Descent of Robert Fitzharding — Origin of Danish Emigration. —

“There was asometyme an ordinance made in Denmark, that if soe the Kynge of that land had any more sons then on, then shuld the eldist sonne and heyre remain within the lande ; and the yonger brethren shulde be send with a substance of goods into other landis, and ther to live in eoviding all inconveniences of debates, that might chance atwixe them within their owne land; and for this cause this herding, a second sonne of the Kynge of Denmark, was send into this land, to Kinge William Conqueror; unto whom this Kinge William Conqueror gave grete riches, and send him to Bristowe, ther to inhabite, the yeare of our Lord 1069.” Id. p. 10, 11.

Fitzharding's Rank. — Robert Fitzharding, sometime Mayor of Bristol. Id. p. 14.

Harding. — Probably the son of Harold or Hardicanute. Id. Harding settled himself in Baldwin Street, Bristol, and became Mayor. He married one Livida, and had issue — sons, Robert, Nicholas, Elias, Jurden, Maurice — daughters, Agnes, Maud, Cicely. Id. p. 23.

Fitzharding. — Robert Fitzharding was born in Bristol towards the end of William the Conqueror's reign; bred up in that town with Harding his father, to whose estate he succeeded, and removed from Baldwin Street to a great stone house, which he built, upon the Frome. MS. Peel, p. 23.

Few small Properties in the Middle Ages. – There were not nineteen small Freeholds in all the Townships, Parishes, and Manors in the whole of Berkeley Hernesse, which Roger Berkeley of Dursley held. Id. p. 32.

Marriages in private Houses. –The Marriages, Covenants, and Peace of Robert Fitzharding's son were made in Robert's house at Bristol, in the presence of King Stephen, Henry Duke of Normandy, &c. MS. Peel, p. 45.

Berkeley Castle.—This antient fabrick at first comprehended only the inmost of the three gates, and what was within the same; the two utmost and all the buildings within them being the additions of Maurice eldest son to this Robert, and of Thomas the second, in the sixth year of King Edward II., and of Thomas the third, 8 Edward III. MS. Berkeley, p. 36.

Consecrated Ground supposed a Preservative of Buildings upon it, in the Family. — Mr. Smyth is of opinion that the site of the Castle, being upon that of the Nunnery, it would, because upon holy ground, continue happily in the Family of Berkeley. Id. p. 36.

Nunnery. —The Nunnery (at least some of the survivors of the Nuns) had a kind of hold or remaindership at Berkeley till King Stephen's death. Id. p. 42. [Three pounds laid out for cloathing three nuns. Rot. Pip. 1 Hen. II.]

Abbey of Augustine, Bristol. — Robert Fitzharding began the Abbey when Henry II. was only nine years old. Id. MS. Peel. Abbeys founded for the Preservation of Family. —“Robert Fitzharding is supposed by Mr. Smyth to have established the foundation of his Castle of Berkeley by building a House to God at Bristowe.” Id. p. 62. [See Fuller's Church History, Book VI. p. 326.]

Berkeley Hyrnesse. —The Grant of Berkeley Herness was made between September 7, 1150, and October 25, 1154. MS. Berkeley, p. 39. The tenure was by Barony; and Lord Berkeley takes his place and precedency from the first year of Henry II., anno 1154. The Hundred of Berkeley was appendant to the Manor; and a Leet of Resiants in the said Villages and Townships also annexed to it. Id. p. 44.

Robert Fitzharding's wife and Issue. —Eve, wife of Robert Fitzharding, founded the Maudlins of Bristol, and lived and continued there Prioress. MS. Peel, p. 46. She and her husband Robert both died in 1170.

Brothers and Sisters of Robert Fitzharding—Combe by Isotton Underedge— Price of Land–Estates partitioned, not descending in primogeniture — Huntingford — Peel Family. —“Elias Fitzharding was enfeoffed by his brother in one hide in Combe by Wotton Underedge; which land in 1618 was the inheritance of John Bridges. He held also one hide of land in Hunteneford, on the other side of Wotton, now (1618) the inheritance of Sir William Throgmorton, Bart. And if it be this Elias filius Hardingi, and not his grandchild, who by fine 5 Henry III. sold a yard-land in Stapleton to William Aldbury, for two markes, which was 76 yeares after, hee then survived his children's children, and died in extreme old age.— This Elias filius Hardingi had issue William, Harding, and Margaret. The said William had his father's land in Combe; aboute the wardship of whose sonne, called also William, was a suit in the 17th yere of King Henry the Third, betweene Thomas then Lord Berkeley, the first of that name, and the Abbot of Kingswood; which is all I have found of him, or of Margaret his sister. Harding, second sonne of the said Elias, had his father's land in Huntingford, who by Dionisan his wife had issue Matilda or Maud, who was married to Galfridus Vitulus, alias Geffrey Veel, a gentleman much favoured by Kinge John, and of special acceptation with many great Lords of that tyme, as the confirmacyon of that Kinge, made to him in the seventh of his raigne, doth of itself assure us: to which Geffry Veel also the Lord Robert de Berkeley, the second of that name, did, about the beginning of that King's raigne, give in frank marriage with the said Matilda or Maud, his cozen, divers other parcells of land in Hunteneford, and in the skirts of his Chace (or Forest, as it is there called) of Sincklewood: hereby that Hyde, Farme, or little Maner of Hunteneford was much enlarged.” MS. Berkeley, p. 27, 28.

Children of Robert Fitzharding — Cokerford — Longstane. — Nicholas second son of Robert Fitzharding had from his father Robert the Manors of Cokerford and Longstane, and divers lands in Tykenham, co. Somerset; and other lands and tenements in Cheshull, Porthashed, Rualach, &c.

Foundation of] ROBERT FITZHARDING. “Unto whom the Barony. [King Henry the Second] in his first entre and warres the foresaid Sir Robert Fitzharding gave and lende grete substance of goodis, to the supportacion and maintenance of his warres: and when this Harry had obtained his right, he remembered the grete kyndnes and benefites of the said Robert fiz herding, and gave unto him and to his eires for ever the Barony of Berkeley; which Barony Roger of Berkeley, Baron of Dursley, held of the King in fee-farme. And for soe moch as the saide Kinge Harry the Second tooke fro’ the said Roger both the Barony of Dursley and also the Barony of Berkeley, forasmuch as he toke party with King Stevin agenste Kinge Harry; and also forasmuch as he refused to pay the fee-farme of the Barony of Berkeley unto the said King Harry; but then after the saide Kinge Harry, entreted by the noble Lords of his realme, gave againe unto the said Roger the Barony of Dursley, as his owne inheritance: and the Barony of Berkeley he gave and confirmed unto the said Sir Robert Fitzherding and his heires for ever, in recompence of his grete costes and kyndnes: and when after this Sir Robert Fitzherding was Lord and Baron of Berkeley, the said Roger, Lord and Baron of Dursley, vexed and trobled with him so grevously, that he came unto the said Kinge Harry, and prayed him to resume his geft againe; but then after the said Kinge Harry made a peace and a finall concord atwixe the said Roger and Robert; soe that the said Roger should give his daughter Alice to wife unto Maurice the son and eire of Sir Robert Fitzherding, with the towne of Slimbridge,” &c. Berkeley M.S. p. 6.

Fitzharding. — Robert Fitzharding was born in Bristol towards the end of William the Conqueror's reign; bred up in that town with Harding his father, to whose estate he succeeded, and removed from Baldwin Street to a great stone house, which he built, upon the Frome. MS. Peel, p. 23.

Few small Properties in the Middle Ages. – There were not nineteen small Freeholds in all the Townships, Parishes, and Manors in the whole of Berkeley Hernesse, which Roger Berkeley of Dursley held. Id. p. 32.

Marriages in private Houses. –The Marriages, Covenants, and Peace of Robert Fitzharding's son were made in Robert's house at Bristol, in the presence of King Stephen, Henry Duke of Normandy, &c. MS. Peel, p. 45. Berkeley Castle.—This antient fabrick at first comprehended only the inmost of the three gates, and what was within the same; the two utmost and all the buildings within them being the additions of Maurice eldest son to this Robert, and of Thomas the second, in the sixth year of King Edward II., and of Thomas the third, 8 Edward III. MS. Berkeley, p. 36.

Consecrated Ground supposed a Preservative of Buildings upon it, in the Family. — Mr. Smyth is of opinion that the site of the Castle, being upon that of the Nunnery, it would, because upon holy ground, continue happily in the Family of Berkeley. Id. p. 36.

Arms: Gules, a chevron argent.

All information that I have on this family, children, bothers, sisters, parents, grandparents, great grandparents.....etc, come from the following sources:

1. www.discovershropshire.org.uk

see: Discovering Shropshire History for more infomation on family.

2) Family descent information came from 1623, The Visitation of Shropshire.

3) 1633, The Visitation of London, anno domine.

4) The History of Parliament Trust : Simon Healy

5) www.familysearch.org

6)The Harleian Society

7) The College-of-Arms.gov.uk

8) The Foundation for Medieval Genealogy

9) www.medievalgenealogy.org.uk

Robert I, "the Devout," fitz Harding, Lord of Berkeley, was never written of as lord of Berkeley. "The life of Robert the Sonne of Harding, usuall [sic] stiled [sic] in writings, Rob fit Hardig, And Sr Robert fits Hard And Robert fitz Harding, And Robtus filius Hardingi, And Robtus filius Hardingi filij Regis Daciae And was the first Lord of Berkeley."

Robert had conferred upon him, for his attachment to the Empress Maud, the lordship of Berkeley and Berkeley Hernesse, the confiscated possessions of Roger de Berkeley, the adherent of King Stephen--but to reconcile the parties, King Henry who had restored to Roger his manor and castle of Dursley, caused an agreement to be concluded between them that the heiress of the ousted lord, Alice, should be given in marriage to the heir of the new baron, Maurice.

Robert married Prioress Eva of Bristol before 1120.

Robert founded the Abbey of St. Augustine, of which he afterwards became a Canon, in 1141 in Bristol, Gloucestershire.

Robert was a merchant of great wealth and influence in Bristol. He received from Henry of Anjou, shortly before Henry's accession as King Henry II, a grant (among others) of the Castle and "herness" of Berkeley in 1152/53.

Robert Dermot Mac Murrough, King of Leinster, on his arrival to solicit succor from King Henry II, in 1168 in Bristol, Gloucestershire,.

Robert was 75 when he died.

Robert FITZ HARDING Lord Berkeley was born 1094 in Bristol, Gloucestershire, England. He died 14 5 Feb 1171 in Bristol, Gloucestershire, England. Robert married Eve on 1115 in Bristol, Gloucestershire, England.

Eve 1was born 1097 in Bristol, Gloucestershire, England. She died 6 12 Mar 1170 in St. Michael's Hill, Bristol, Gloucestershire, England. Eve married Robert FITZ HARDING Lord Berkeley on 1115 in Bristol, Gloucestershire, England.

They had the following children:

  M i Maurice I de BERKELEY Lord Berkeley was born 1116 and died 16 Jun 1190. 

M ii Robert de BERKELEY was born 1118 and died 1194.
M iii Henry de BERKELEY Priest 1, 2 was born 1121 in Bristol, Gloucestershire, England. He died Aug 1188 in Rome, Rome, Italy.
M iv Nicholas de BERKELEY was born 1124 and died 5 May 1189.
M v Thomas de BERKELEY Archdeacon of Worcester 1, 2 was born 1126 in Bristol, Gloucestershire, England.
F vi Helena de BERKELEY was born 1128 and died 12 Jan 1209.
F vii Aldena de BERKELEY was born 1130.
F viii Margaret de BERKELEY was born 1134.
# ID: I30044

1. Name: Robert "Devout" Fitz Harding [Lord Berkeley
2. Surname: Fitz Harding
3. Given Name: Robert "Devout"
4. Suffix: [Lord Berkeley
5. Sex: M
6. Birth: ABT 1095/1096 in Berkeley, Gloucester, England
7. Christening: (Abt 75-1170/1)
8. Death: 5 Feb 1170 in Bristol, Gloucester, England
9. Burial: 1170 Monastery, St. Augustine, Gloucester, England
10. _UID: AD237D649682DA4BBF9FC43051F048F8C101
11. Change Date: 18 Jan 2002 at 00:00:00

Marriage 1 Eve Fitz Estmond [Prioress] b: ABT 1099 in Bristol, Gloucester, England

   * Married: ABT 1119 in Of, , , England

* Sealing Spouse:
Children

  1. Has No Children Robert Fitz Harding b: ABT 1122 in Bristol, Gloucester, England

2. Has No Children Nicholas Fitz Harding b: ABT 1124 in Baldwin St, Bristol, Gloucester, England
3. Has No Children Thomas Fitz Harding b: ABT 1126 in Bristol, Gloucester, England
4. Has No Children Henry Fitz Harding b: ABT 1128 in Baldwin St, Bristol, Gloucester, England
5. Has No Children Elena Fitz Robert Fitz Harding b: ABT 1130 in Baldwin St, Bristol, Gloucester, England
6. Has No Children Aldena Fitz Harding b: ABT 1132 in Bristol, Gloucester, England
7. Has No Children Eva Fitz Harding b: ABT 1167 in Baldwin St, Bristol, Gloucester, England
8. Has Children Maurice "Make Peace" Fitz Robert Fitz Harding [Lord Berkeley] b: ABT 1120 in Bristol, Gloucester, England
Sources:

  1. Title: #680

2. Title: #681
3. Title: #669
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Fitzharding

Arms: Gules, a chevron argent.

All information that I have on this family, children, bothers, sisters, parents, grandparents, great grandparents.....etc, come from the following sources:

1. www.discovershropshire.org.uk

see: Discovering Shropshire History for more infomation on family.

2) Family descent information came from 1623, The Visitation of Shropshire.

3) 1633, The Visitation of London, anno domine.

4) The History of Parliament Trust : Simon Healy

5) www.familysearch.org

6)The Harleian Society

7) The College-of-Arms.gov.uk

8) The Foundation for Medieval Genealogy

9) www.medievalgenealogy.org.uk

Robert I, "the Devout," fitz Harding, Lord of Berkeley, was never written of as lord of Berkeley. "The life of Robert the Sonne of Harding, usuall [sic] stiled [sic] in writings, Rob fit Hardig, And Sr Robert fits Hard And Robert fitz Harding, And Robtus filius Hardingi, And Robtus filius Hardingi filij Regis Daciae And was the first Lord of Berkeley."

Robert had conferred upon him, for his attachment to the Empress Maud, the lordship of Berkeley and Berkeley Hernesse, the confiscated possessions of Roger de Berkeley, the adherent of King Stephen--but to reconcile the parties, King Henry who had restored to Roger his manor and castle of Dursley, caused an agreement to be concluded between them that the heiress of the ousted lord, Alice, should be given in marriage to the heir of the new baron, Maurice.

Robert married Prioress Eva of Bristol before 1120.

Robert founded the Abbey of St. Augustine, of which he afterwards became a Canon, in 1141 in Bristol, Gloucestershire.

Robert was a merchant of great wealth and influence in Bristol. He received from Henry of Anjou, shortly before Henry's accession as King Henry II, a grant (among others) of the Castle and "herness" of Berkeley in 1152/53.

Robert Dermot Mac Murrough, King of Leinster, on his arrival to solicit succor from King Henry II, in 1168 in Bristol, Gloucestershire,.

Robert was 75 when he died.

See "My Lines"

( http://homepages.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cousin/html/p373.htm#i23365 )

from Compiler: R. B. Stewart, Evans, GA

( http://homepages.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cousin/html/index.htm )

Robert FITZ HARDING Lord Berkeley was born 1094 in Bristol, Gloucestershire, England. He died 14 5 Feb 1171 in Bristol, Gloucestershire, England. Robert married Eve on 1115 in Bristol, Gloucestershire, England.

Eve 1was born 1097 in Bristol, Gloucestershire, England. She died 6 12 Mar 1170 in St. Michael's Hill, Bristol, Gloucestershire, England. Eve married Robert FITZ HARDING Lord Berkeley on 1115 in Bristol, Gloucestershire, England.

They had the following children:

M i Maurice I de BERKELEY Lord Berkeley was born 1116 and died 16 Jun 1190.
M ii Robert de BERKELEY was born 1118 and died 1194. M iii Henry de BERKELEY Priest 1, 2 was born 1121 in Bristol, Gloucestershire, England. He died Aug 1188 in Rome, Rome, Italy. M iv Nicholas de BERKELEY was born 1124 and died 5 May 1189. M v Thomas de BERKELEY Archdeacon of Worcester 1, 2 was born 1126 in Bristol, Gloucestershire, England. F vi Helena de BERKELEY was born 1128 and died 12 Jan 1209. F vii Aldena de BERKELEY was born 1130. F viii Margaret de BERKELEY was born 1134.

Robert was the eldest son of Harding and succeeded him in his estates and in the office of Praepositus at Bristol. He rendered important services both with arms and money to the Empress Maud, daughter of Henry I, and her son Henry Plantagenet, afterwards Henry II, in their contest for the Crown with the usurper Stephen, to recompense which, Henry, on the ultimate success of his party, bestowed upon Robert the great Manor and Barony of Berkeley, which had been previously held from the crown by Roger (called Roger de Berkeley) the lord of Dursley. Roger however for some time held his inheritance by force of arms, and to settle the dispute the king gave Roger the Manor of Dursley in fee, on condition of his surrendering Berkeley to Robert; a double marriage was also arranged between the two families, Robert's eldest son Maurice marrying Alice the daughter of the Lord of Dursley, while Roger's son espoused one of the daughters of Robert Fitzharding. After this they all seemed to have lived in peace, and the new lord of Berkeley took quiet possession of his castle and manors.

In 1140, Robert commenced the long series of benefactions to the church for which his family were so remarkable, by building and endowing the monastery of St. Augustine at Bristol, the church of which is now the Cathedral. It was consecrated and dedicated on Easter Day 1148, when Robert laid upon the high altar his deed of gift by which he endowed it with many fair manors and lands, which still form the endowment of the Bishopric. He died in 1170, and was buried in St. Augustine's, in a monk's habit and cowl, having some time previously become a regular Canon therein.

ID: I30044 Name: Robert "Devout" Fitz Harding [Lord Berkeley Surname: Fitz Harding Given Name: Robert "Devout" Suffix: [Lord Berkeley Sex: M Birth: ABT 1095/1096 in Berkeley, Gloucester, England Christening: (Abt 75-1170/1) Death: 5 Feb 1170 in Bristol, Gloucester, England Burial: 1170 Monastery, St. Augustine, Gloucester, England _UID: AD237D649682DA4BBF9FC43051F048F8C101 Change Date: 18 Jan 2002 at 00:00:00 Marriage 1 Eve Fitz Estmond [Prioress] b: ABT 1099 in Bristol, Gloucester, England

• Married: ABT 1119 in Of, , , England
• Sealing Spouse: Children

1. Has No Children Robert Fitz Harding b: ABT 1122 in Bristol, Gloucester, England 2. Has No Children Nicholas Fitz Harding b: ABT 1124 in Baldwin St, Bristol, Gloucester, England 3. Has No Children Thomas Fitz Harding b: ABT 1126 in Bristol, Gloucester, England 4. Has No Children Henry Fitz Harding b: ABT 1128 in Baldwin St, Bristol, Gloucester, England 5. Has No Children Elena Fitz Robert Fitz Harding b: ABT 1130 in Baldwin St, Bristol, Gloucester, England 6. Has No Children Aldena Fitz Harding b: ABT 1132 in Bristol, Gloucester, England 7. Has No Children Eva Fitz Harding b: ABT 1167 in Baldwin St, Bristol, Gloucester, England 8. Has Children Maurice "Make Peace" Fitz Robert Fitz Harding [Lord Berkeley] b: ABT 1120 in Bristol, Gloucester, England Sources:

1. Title: #680 2. Title: #681 3. Title: #669 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Fitzhardingwww.findagrave.com

Robert Fitzharding
BIRTH 1095
Berkeley, Stroud District, Gloucestershire, England
DEATH 1170 (aged 74–75)
Bristol, England
BURIAL
Bristol Cathedral
Bristol, Bristol Unitary Authority, Bristol, England
PLOT
entrance to the choir
MEMORIAL ID 27841702

Family Members
Spouse
Eva FitzEstmond Fitzharding
unknown–1170

Children
Maurice FitzRobert "The Make Peace" FitzHarding
1130–1190