Research Notes:

"…Balduini filii ipsius Gisle, item filiorum eius Rodulphi, Gisleberti…" signed the charter dated 1056 by which Baudouin V Count of Flanders approved the donation by "matrona Gisla" of "Ronneka" to the abbey of Saint-Pierre de Gand. "Gisla" granted a serf to the abbey of Saint-Pierre de Gand by charter dated Apr 1058, signed by "Balduuini filii ipsius Gislæ, item filiorum eius Rodulfi, Gisleberti…". A manuscript genealogy of the Gant family names “Giselbertus de Gaunt, filius Baldwini comitis de Flandria” when recording that he accompanied “Willielmo conquestore avunculo suo” to England. Flemish primary sources do not confirm that Gilbert was the son of Baudouin Count of Flanders. However, it would be chronological consistent if he was the same person as Giselbert, son of Rudolf van Gent, although the primary source which confirms that this is correct has not yet been identified. The Stemma fundatoris of Bardney Abbey records that ”Gislebrictus de Gaunt” came [to England] with “Willielmo Bastardo avunculo suo”. No family relationship between Gilbert and William I King of England has been established, although they would of course be related if Gilbert was a member of the comital family of Flanders as indicated by the manuscript quoted above. The Chronica Monasterii Watinensis cites a donation by "Walterus Bergensis", witnessed by (among others) "Gislebertus frater Balduini Gandensis qui ab Anglia tunc venerat".

Domesday Book records land held by “Gilbert de Ghent” in Rowbury Hundred in Berkshire; Church Hanborough and Ewelme in Oxfordshire; numerous properties in Lincolnshire. A charter of King Henry II records donations to York St Mary, including the donation of land “in Fereby” by “Gilbertus de Gaunt”. Lord of Folkingham. ¹