(1)

ODO of AUMALE married Adelaid/Adeliza, the Conquerors sister.

(2)

Their son Stephen became Earl of Albermarle.

(3)

Stephen's son William le Gros became Earl of Albermarle.

(4)

William Le Gros' only surviving child, a daughter, HAWISE inherited the title (and then married 3 or 4 times depending on the historian concerned - in the period 1189-1196).

Possible date
of birth

CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE of the ALBERMARLES

1030

(1)

WILLIAM the CONQUERORS sister ADELAID/ADELIZA, born about 1030AD married three times in 1045/50: in 1053 to INGELRAM/ENGUERRAND/WILLIAM Comte de PONTHIEU and Lord of AUMALE. He was killed a year later at ARQUES.

1053

Their daughter ADELIZA born 1053, became Comtess d’AUMALE and heir about 1080 and she died in 1090. It is almost certain that she married a DE (LA)FORCE about 1070, either a GUILLAUME or a GAUFRIDUS (see chapter 36). There were five generations of ANJOU GAUFRIDUSI GEOFFRIES spanning 1020-1140 and even more WILLIAMS.

(2)

The Conquerors sister married a third time to ODO 'le Champenois' who became Count of Champagne and Lord of Holderness (the Albermarle title in Yorkshire): he was however disinherited of the titles by the Conqueror some of which were given to his son STEPHEN (by ADELAIDE). STEPHEN was born about 1058 and killed in the first Crusade in 1096. If Stephen had any sons they certainly did not include WILLIAM Le GROS, Earl of Albermarle b.1110-79 since Stephen was in his grave 14 years before WILLIAM's birth.

(3)

At the Conquest in 1066 in the Battle honours were (Source TAILLEFER)...

1040-5

GUILLAUNE d'AU BELLE MARE, Seigneur de FOUGIERES and also...

1030-5

THOMAS, ERLE D'AUMARLE fighting alongside a Knight called FORZ. It is possible that THOMAS was a son of ADELAIDE by her first marriage. GUILLAUMES only title was that of S. de Fougieres. He might have also been ADELIZA's son by her first marriage. He was listed No 6 in the Battle Honours (which were not in alphabetical order).

1050-60

(4)

In the Domesday Book of 1085/6 ROBERT of AUMALE, Earl of ALBERMARLE was shown as a major landowner in Devon and elsewhere in England. He was probably Thomas' son (see 3).

(5)

Although there is little information available at the end of the 11th century certain deductions can be made relating to that period from events early in the 12th century, but see (7) below.

1080
1060

The monastery and town of FORS, near AYSGARTH & JERVAULX & RICHMOND in Yorkshire was built in the period 1145-1150 by "AQUARIUS/AKARIUS (WILLIAM), son of BARDOLPH". AQUARIUS was WILLIAM Le GROS, Earl of Albermarle who founded the Abbey of RICHMOND in Yorkshire and St MARTIN d'ACY at AUMALE in Normandy. One historian said "De FORS founded the monstery of Richmond in 1147".

1110

(6)

So plump and prosperous WILLIAM was born about 1110. He made gifts in 1135 (Willelm’s Comitis Albae Marlae) to St MARTINI d'ANJOU. (Source MARCHEGAY) the home of the POITOU/ANJOU Delaforce family. He was made Earl of Yorkshire for beating the Scots in 1138. He married about 1130. One historian says that he had two sons Stephen and William: others say he had but one daughter called HAWISE. He died in 1179.

1080

(7)

His father was called BARDOLPH born about 1080. He could well have been the..

1060

Seigneur RADULF de FORTE, brother or son of Seigneur GUILLELMI de FORTE, Monarchi de FONTANIS, St MARTINS TALAMONTE, FONTENAY, MARMOUTIER en bas POITOU in 1098.

All through the Albermarles history in Yorkshire runs their true love for FOUNTAINS Abbey (William took sanctuary there in 1220).

(8)

In the period 1129-1143 PAGANUS de ALBA MARLA (HARDUINO de cajus erat feoda) and PAGANUS de FOCARIO, landowner in ANJOU at the same time were evidently the same man (HARDUINO now being les CADOUINS in ANJOU). Probably PAGANUS was AKARIUS or WILLIAM, son of BARDOLPH/RADULF (6) and (7).

(9)

WILLIAM Le GROS 1110-1179 was possibly the same man as "GROSSO" de FOSSIS, who together with "BOBINUS" (ROBERTUS) and "RAINARDUS" (REGINALDUS) owned lands at St Marie, PANTENAM (modern PARTHENAY) in the first quarter of the 12th century. The coincidence of "GROSSO" and "LE GROS" at the same time and place is reasonably good proof that they were the same man. The Great Roll of the PIPE shows ROBERTUS de ALBERMARLA in 1182 'de misericordia regis (Henry II) pro foresta de placitis CURIE; REGINALDUS de ALBERMARLE "pro recognitione de WODNESBERIA", and 1183-6 Reg. and Robertus de ALBERMARLE'. Also the same year WILLELMO is shown as Comiti de Albermarle of SVDSEXA/Sussex. This is during the period between WILLIAM le Gros' death in 1179 and his daughter HAWISE's marriages.

(10)

ROGER de FORCE/de FORTIBUS and REGINALDUS de FORTIBUS were landowners in Essex, Notts and Derby in 1166-94. Co-incidence? or were they the same men as Roger and Reginaldus de Albermarle?

(11)

To complicate matters Bernard was a Count of Albermarle in 1202 owning lands in Kent and Lincoln. In the same "Feod. of ALBEM" were GALFRIDUS, ROBERTUS and WILLIELMUS Des FORZ, de FURCHIS. GALFRIDUS de ALBA MARLA had to produce 'J militem' in Devonshire that year.

(12)

HADWISE or HAWISE, the only daughter of WILLIAM Le Gros 1110-1179 was descended from ADELIZA, Countess of AUMALE 1053-1090, grand-daughter of ADELIZA/ADELAIDE, the Conquerors sister 1030-1080. These are known facts: did the second ADELIZA marry a WILLIAM de FORTE, father of BARDOLPH/RADULF, about 1050AD? It is logical to suppose she did.

(a)

Who was Sir William de FORT who was noted during 1270-1280? He witnessed land sales at Westkingtone (Westminster) during that time and later still in 1297 was in prison at Berwick Castle.

(b)

HENRICUS de ALBERMARLE was a Baron, either of ELY, or he was in Ely in 1270. He was a nephew of William de FOSSA.

(c)

Baldewin de FORZ, was Count of Devon in the 12th year of Edward the 1st reign, i.e. 1284.

(d)

In 1287 William de FORZ "ciuondam", sometime Count of Aumale held 34 borates of land in Wapentake of GRAFFOE (Carlton). Two years later WILLIAM de ALBERMARLE held Middle Chinnock, Somerset of the 'fee' of ASHILL. (ROT.ORIGIN)

(e)

T. RYMER, the English historian, showed in the period 1305-1327, Williams and Johns as Knights and Members of Parliament in England. The names were spelt de FOSSE, dela FOSSE, FORT, FOR, le FORCET, de la FURSE.

(f)

In the reign of Edward III, i.e. after 1327, WILLMUS de FORTIBUS was "Comitem Albe Marlie in Cayton (Carlton) & Osgotby. (Also shown as Wills Le FORTIR, Le FORT, de FORTE and de FURCHES.)

(g)

In 1344 (Ed. III 17th year) ISABELLA de FORTIBUS, Countess of Albermarle's will was finally settled and that of Elizabeth de FORTIBUS also Countess Albermarle and Devon. Her family were mentioned in her will - MARY, BALDWIN, John and Hugo - the last becoming Count (Source: T. Rymer)