Research Notes:

Altenative date of death: Before 19 Aug 1214.

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"H. de Mortuomari" donated the church of Vatterville to Saint-Victor-en-Caux by charter dated to after 1179, witnessed by "Hugone filio meo, Rogero filio meo…Willelmo fratre meo, Willelmo nepote meo…Reginaldo de Vassunvilla…". An Anglo-Norman history of the foundation of Wigmore abbey records the death of "Hugh de Mortimer" and succession of his son Roger who "was held in the king´s keeping for the death of one named Cadwallan" but later released. A manuscript narrating the foundation of Wigmore Abbey records that "filium suum Rogerum [ex Matilda filia Willielmi Longespeye]" succeeded on the death of his father Hugh.

"Rogerus de Mortuomari…et dominæ Isabellæ uxoris meæ" donated property to Kington St Michael by undated charter, witnessed by "Philippo de Mortuomari…". "Rogerus de Mortuomari" donated "terram Sancte-Columbe" to Saint-Victor-en-Caux by undated charter, witnessed by "Roberto filio meo…". "…Rogerio de Mortuo Mari…" subscribed the charter dated to [1182/89] under which Henry II King of England confirmed the possessions of the abbey of Barbery. The Red Book of the Exchequer, listing scutage payments in [1194/95], records "Rogerus de Mortumer" among those granted delayed payment "per brevia" in Lincolnshire and in Berkshire. The Red Book of the Exchequer records "Rogerus de Mortuo Mari" holding "Sorendene per i feodum" in Wiltshire in [1210/12]. The Testa de Nevill lists knights who held land in Gloucestershire, dated to [1211/13]: "Rogerus de Mortuo Mari" held "Lechelad et Langeleg de hereditate uxoris sue".

A manuscript narrating the foundation of Wigmore Abbey records the death "VIII Kal Jul 1215" of "domini Rogeri". ¹

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ROGER DE MORTIMER, eldest surviving son and heir. In his father's lifetime he appears on the Pipe Roll as holding terrae datae in Worcestershire and Salop. He was a benefactor of Gloucester Abbey, of Kington, St. Michael, Wilts, of Cwmhir, of Jumièges, and if Saint-Victor-en-Caux. Between 1182 and 1189 he attested at Rouen a charter of Henry II to the monks of Barbey (diocese of Bayeux). In 1191, upon a charge of conspiring with the Welsh against the King, he was forced to surrender his castles and to abjure the country for three years. In April 1194 he was in England again, and witnessed a charter of Richard I, after his second Coronation at Winchester. Roger was a strenuous Lord Marcher, and in 1195 drove the sons of Cadwallon out of Maelienydd, and restored Cwmaron Castle; but next year Rhys, Prince of South Wales, defeated a well-equipped force of cavalry and foot under Mortimer and Hugh de Say, of Richard's Castle, with much slaughter, near Radnor. He was one of the magnates who refused to serve personally in France in 1201, but his fine was remitted. On 1 April 1207 he witnessed a charter of the King at Montfort-sur-Risle, and he appears to have been with John at Bonport in July following.(b) On the loss of Normandy in 12o4. Roger adhered to John and forfeited his Norman lands. In 1205 he landed at Dieppe, and being captured by John de Rouvray, bailiff of Caux, was compelled to pay a ransom of 1,000 marks. He was in England again by June 1207, when he was directed to hand Knighton Castle to the custody of a successor; in that year his wife Isabel had a grant of Oakham for life. In 1210 some of his knights served in the King's invasion of Ireland. In 1212 he proffered 3,000 marks for the marriage of the heir of Walter de Beauchamp, to whom he married his daughter Joan. In May 1213 he was one of the sponsors for John's good faith in his reconciliation with Archbishop Langton at the command of the Pope.

He married Isabel, daughter of Walkelin DE FERRIÈRES, seigneur of Ferrières-Saint-Hilaire and lord of Oakham. He died before 19 August 1214, having, with the King's permission, resigned his lands to his son Hugh when he was taken ill, and was at buried at Wigmore. His widow Isabel married, 2ndly, Piers FITZHERBERT, of Blaen Llyfni, who died 1 June 1235. She retained her father's English lands till her death. She died before 29 April 1252, and was buried in the chapel which she had built in the court of the Hospital of St. John of Lechlade. ²

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Roger de Mortimer, Lord of Wigmore, a feudal baron who, like his predecessors, was in constant strife with the Welsh. At one time he sustained a great defeat in conjunction with Hugh de Say, but in the end he was victorious and took twelve of their principal leaders in one battle. He also enlarged considerably his territories and drove thieves and robbers from those pars. Being at one time present at the solemn anniversary of his father, he confirmed all his grants to the canons of Wigmore, adding, of his own gift, a spacious and fruitful pasture lying adjacent to the abbey, called the Treasure of Mortimer, upon which occasion, his steward remonstrating with him for parting with so valuable a treasure, he replied, "I have laid up my treasure in that field, where thieves cannot steal or dig, or moth corrupt." This Roger m. Millicent, dau. of --- Ferrers, Earl of Derby, and had issue, Hugh, his successor, and two daus., the elder m. to Stephen le Gross, the younger to Walcheline de Beauchamp. He m. 2ndly, Isabel, sister and heir of Hugh de Ferrers, of Oakham, in Rutlandshire, and of Lechelade and Lagebury in Gloucestershire. All which lands he inherited upon the death of the said Hugh de Ferrers, and by that lady he had three sons, Ralph, Robert, and Philip. He d. in 1215, and was s. by his eldest son, Hugh de Mortimer. ³