Research Notes:

"Almaricus Dispensator domini regis" confirmed the donation of "molendino de Dailintona", after the death of "Walterii de Cheisneto patris Amabilis uxoris mee…assensu Eue uxoris eius", to Eynsham abbey by charter dated to [1186/95]. King John confirmed "terra de Wordy et de Stanleia", which King Henry II had granted to "Waltero fratri suo", to "Almarico Dispensatori fil Turstan fratri Walteri fil Turstan heredi eiusdem Walteri" by charter dated 24 Apr 1205. The Testa de Nevill records that "Almaricus Dispensator" held land "in Ewelm" in Oxfordshire in 1198. The Testa de Nevill includes a writ of King John dated 1212 which records that "heredes Aumari Dispensatoris qui sunt in custodia Thome Bluet" owed property to the king in Oxfordshire. ¹

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Thurstan had a confirmation of King's Worthy, Hants, and King's Stanley, co. Gloucester, 3 Feb 1228/9, and was son and heir of Aymer, Dispensator Regis, by his 2nd wife, Alda Bloet. Aymer had m., 1stly, before Tuesday before St. Margaret, 15 July 1186, Amabel (who had Dallington, Northants, in free marriage), daughter and coheir of Walter de Chesney, by Eve, daughter and heir of Eustace de Broc. By Amabel (called Maud in the Nete Book) he had a daughter and heir, Julian, who m. 1stly William Bardolf, 2ndly Piers de Stokes (who dsp), and 3rdly Geoffrey de Lucy, to whom she brought the manor of Dallington. Aymer had a confirmation of Worthy and Stanley, 24 Apr 1204, and was brother and heir of Walter, Dispensator Regis (son and heir of Thurstan), to whom Henry II granted the lands of Worthy and Stanley for his homage and service, rendering therefore a pair of gilt spurs or 12d. a year, to hold by the service of 1/2 a knight's fee. The last-named Thurstan was son of Simon son of Thurstan, or Turstin, Dispensator to William II. ²

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In 1196 Amaury le Despenser owed 200 marks which William Bardulf had promised for having Amaury's daughter to wife. It appears that by his first wife Amaury had an only daughter and, her mother being now dead, the marriage of the daughter was in the gift of the crown. Two years later Peter de Stokes owed 100 marks for having the daughter and heir of Amaury le Despenser to wife, the fine to be paid at terms set by the king. In 1198 Amaury held in Ewelme 2 carucates in demesne and 2 carucates in villeinage; he was engaged in a plea in 1200... In 1204 the king confirmed to Amaury Despenser, son of Thurstan and brother of Walter son of Thurstan, heir of the said Walter, the land of Worthy, Hants., and King's Stanley, Gloucs., which Henry II had given to Walter brother of the said Amaury, to hold by doing the service of ½ fee for the land in Stanley and a pair of gilt spurs, worth 12d., for Worthy. In 1201 Amaury had paid scutage for this ½ fee and was in possession of Worthy. In the following year the king granted to Peter de Stokes the manor of Osprenge, Kent, to hold to him and his issue begotten of the daughter of Amaury le Despenser, his wife, or other wife, for 1 fee. In 1205 custody of Amaury's land and heir was committed to Peter de Stokes, to whom the sheriffs of Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, Hampshire and Worcestershire were directed to give seisin.

In 1212 the heirs of Amaury le Despenser were in the wardship of Thomas Bluet and had 100s. yearly value in land in Oxfordshire by serjeanty of being the king's despenser. In 1214 Roger Cordwaner had seisin of the land late of Amaury le Despenser in Roberichton (? Rollright), Oxon. In 1215, after the death of Thomas Bloet, the land late of Amaury in Stanley was committed to Reuland Bloet, and in the following year Reuland's land and what he had in his custody of the said Amaury's land was committed to Osbert Giffard... ³