A manuscript which narrates the descents of the founders of Lanthony Abbey names (in order) "Margareta…Humfredus…Johannes…Humfredus decimus…Edwardus et Willielmus…Alianora, Margareta secunda, Eneas, Isabella" as the six sons and four daughters of "Humfredus octavus de Bohun, comes Herefordiæ et Essex, constabularius Angliæ et dominus Breconiæ" and his wife "Elizabetham filiam regis Edwardi filii regis Henrici tertii", adding that the second Margaret married (after the death of her father) "domino Hugoni de Cortney…comitem de Devonschire".
The Fundationis et Fundatorum Historia of Ford Abbey records the marriage "1325 III Id Aug" of "Hugonem tertium" and "dominæ Margaretæ filiæ comitis Herefordiæ domini Humphredi de Bohun", adding that her mother was "dominam Elizabetham…regis…Edwardi…primi filiam".
The will of "Humphrey de Bohun Earl of Hereford and Essex and Lord of Brecknock", dated 10 Oct 1361 and proved 20 Oct 1361, bequeathed property to "our...nephew Humphrey de Bohun...Elizabeth our niece of Northampton...our niece Dame Catherine d'Engayne...our sister Countess of Ormond, our brother Mons. Hugh de Courtenay Earl of Devonshire...our sister Countess of Devonshire...". 1
------------------------
14 Aug 1377, Westminster
To Robert atte Hulle escheator in Devon. Order to deliver to Margaret who was wife of Hugh de Courtenay earl of Devon, of whom the king has commanded Henry de Percehay to take an oath that she will not marry without his licence, the manor of Coliton called Colecombe with a moiety of the hundred of Coliton and the borough of Coliford thereto adjacent, the manor of Chalvelegh, the manor and borough of Chilmelegh, the manor and hundred of Exmynstre with certain lands etc. in Tengmouth thereto pertaining, and the manor of Ken, which with the assent of Edward cousin and heir of the earl and Wilham de Latymer knight to whom (quibus) the late king committed the wardship of the earl's lands the king has assigned to her in dower of his castles, lands etc. the manors of Sutton Courteney and Woddesden excepted, assigning also the manor of Westcoker and hundred of Coker, a moiety of the manor of Crukerne co. Somerset and the hundred thereof, the manor of Ebrighton co. Dorset, and 34s. of rent in Cranwell co. Oxford, rendering yearly £7 5s. 4d., the excess of her dower, to the king or his said farmers until the lawful age of the heir and then to the said heir, and saving to them sufficient wood and underwood for repair of the mills and weirs of Exilonde, Westyate, Shipeshead and Toppesham in the manors pf Exmynstre and Ken.
To Robert James escheator in Somerset and Dorset. Like order to deliver in dower to the said Margaret the manor of Westcoker, the hundred of Coker, a moiety of the manor of Crukerne co. Somerset and the hundred, and the manor of Ebrighton co. Dorset.
The like to Nicholas de Somerton escheator in Oxfordshire concerning 34s. of rent in Cranwell....
Calendar of the Close Rolls, 1 Rich. II, pp. 10-11
------------------------
The Will of Margaret Countess of Devon. 2
Margaret de Courtney, Countess of Devon, January 28th, 1391. My body to be buried in the Cathedral Church of Exeter, near the body of my lord and husband, and I desire that there be no other hearse than plain bars to keep off the press of people, and only two tapers of five pound each, one at my head, the other at my feet, without any torches or other lights ; I will that on my burial day xx /. be distributed to poor people, to every one a groat ; I will that cc /. be distributed amongst the daughters of knights and gentlemen, towards their marriage portions, and to poor scholars at school; to Margaret, the daughter of my son Philip one hundred marks, to increase her portion ; to William, my son, Archbishop of Canterbury, a gilt chalice and a missal ; to my daughter Cobham xl /. ; to my daughter Lutterell x /. ; to my daughter Engaine xL/. with two primers and a book called Arthur de Bretagne; to my son, the Earl of Devon, all my swans at Topsham ; to my son Philip all the furniture of my Chapel, books, vestments, candlesticks, &c. ; to my daughter Lady Ann Courtney a ring with a diamond ; to my son Peter my bed of red and green, paly ; to the Abbess of Canonlegh ; to the Prioress of Corn worth; to the Prior of Benliche; to the Prioress of Polsho ; to Joan, my daughter; to Hugh Lutterel.
Research Notes: