Research Notes:

"…Roberto de Tresgoz" subscribed the charter dated to [1181/89] under which Henry II King of England granted land to "Waltero ostiario de Camera". The Red Book of the Exchequer, listing scutage payments in [1190/91], records "feoda Huberti de Rya" paying "xvii l x s, per Robertum de Tresgoz, xxxv milites" in Norfolk, Suffolk. This suggests a close family relationship between the two individuals, although this has not yet been traced. The 1194/95 Pipe Roll records "Roberto de Tresgoz c s in Martinesgraua de dimidio anno" in honour of Arundel. "Nigell Pincebec et Alic uxor eius" paid a fine for "custodia terre et heredis Walt Biset vs Rob de Tresgoz et Sibill ux eius", in Herefordshire, dated 1204. The Red Book of the Exchequer records "Robertus de Tresgoz" holding "Alingetone" in Wiltshire, and 19 in Hereford, in [1210/12]. The Testa de Nevill includes a writ of King John dated 1212 which records that "Robertus de Tresgoz" held "feodum ii militum in Septon de honore de Ewias" in Hampshire. ¹

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TREGOZ (of Ewyas Harold)

Observations.-There can be little doubt that the families of Tregoz, centred in East Anglia and south-east England in the 12th century, were related, and it is very probable that the Tregoz lords of Ewyas Harold, co. Hereford, were also connected with these families. The name comes from Troisgots: Manche, arr. St. Lô, cant. Tessy-sur-Vire.

ROBERT DE TREGOZ was probably the son of William DE TREGOZ (who owed the service of 1½ knights in the Cotentin in 1172), and may also have been the man of that name who was a partisan of the young King Henry (eldest son of Henry II) in 1173 and attested his charters in 1175. Robert was active in Normandy during the reigns of Richard I and John. He was with the King there in 1190 and during the years 1194-99, being called the King's Steward in 1194; and was bailiff of the Cotentin in 1195 and 1197, and under John. An agreement made between King Richard and the Count of Flanders in 1197 was witnessed by Robert, who in 1200 was at the determination of the bounds between Evreux and Neufbourg after the peace between King John and Philip Augustus. During the years 1200-04 he was warden of the castles of Gavray, Neaufle and Similly, and custodian of the lands of Simon Pevilene; and in November 1204 he went on royal business to Flanders. He remained faithful to the English Crown after 1204, and his escheated lands in Trégots, Favarches and St. Romphaire were granted by Philip Augustus to Miles de Lévis, November 1218. Robert went to the continent on royal business with William Marshal, Earl of Pembroke, in the spring of 1205. He was also active in England, holding many offices during the reign of Richard I. The castle of Salisbury was in his care, 1190-94, and again in 1198 and 1199; he was keeper of the royal houses at Clarendon, 1190-93, and sheriff of Wiltshire in 1191. He farmed Gastard, in Corsham, Wilts, 1191-94, was granted money from Warminster in 1193, and farmed the lands of Geoffrey Hose in Wilts, 1197-1200. He also farmed Bristol, 1196-99. Robert answered for the lands of Alan de Hairun in 1200, was granted estates, in payment of the King's debts to him, at Pencombe, co. Hereford, in 1205, and in the following year he received the manor of Chelworth, Sornerset.

He married, possibly in 1198, Sibyl, daughter and heir of Robert de Ewyas, lord of Ewyas Harold, co. Hereford, by Pernel (Petronilla), his wife (living 28 October 1204.) He died some time before 29 April 1215. Sibyl married, 2ndly, before 13 February 1216/7, Roger, son of Walter DE CLIFFORD, of Clifford Castle, co. Hereford. She died shortly before 1 July 1236. ²

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SIR ROBERT DE TREGOZE, second son, was, though such, the great man of the family, and founded its most important branch; and this because he acquired immense wealth by his marriage. He took to wife Sibilla, daughter and heiress of Robert de Ewyas, Lord Ewyas, of Harold Ewyas, in Herefordshire; and in 9th Ric. I. (Easter Term) had a suit with Hermenus de Braton for the advowson of Braton church in Norfolk, part of her vast inheritance. But it appears, that though duly married, a strange contest arose in the 11th John regarding her; when, in Easter Term, William de Newmarket was summoned to show by what right be claimed to wife her who was Robert Tregoz's wife ; for it appears that Richard I had given her to Tregoz in marriage. Whereupon Newmarket came and said that he had married her in the time of Richard the First by gift of Robert de Ewyas her father. It is very certain, however, that Tregoz had sufficient power to retain the heiress; for in 13th John, Michaelmas Term, we find "Robert de Tregoze and Sibilla his wife" impleading Ralph de St. Maur for land in Bren, in Somersetshire, the right of the said Sibilla and in Trin. Term, 14th John, they had recovered the said lands against St. Maur. This Sibilla de Ewyas brought immense domains, including the castle of Ewyas Harold in Herefordshire, into the Tregoze family.

Meanwhile Sir Robert de Tregoze was High Sheriff of Wilts 3rd Ric. I.; and in three years after was engaged in the expedition made into Normandy. In Ist John (1200), he gave the King 200 marks in silver to have granted to him the wardship of the heir and lands of Geoffry Hose; and in 7th John (1206), on collecting the scutage of that King's reign, answered thirty eight marks for nineteen knight's fees belonging to the honour of Robert de Ewyas his father in law. He also held one knight's fee in Irchingfield ; but died about the year 1212.

Sibilla, his wife, survived him, and in 1214 married, secondly, Roger de Clifford, for which marriage that nobleman gave the King 1000?. Roger de Clifford died 1231-2, in the lifetime of his elder brother Walter de Clifford, having had by the said Sibilla a son, Roger de Clifford, a Baron famous for his extraordinary experience in military affairs, ancestor of the Lords de Clifrord. Sibilla herself was dead in 1236, and by Tregoze, her former husband, had two sons and a daughter. ³