• Born: Abt 1166
• Married:
• Died: Between 17 Aug 1216 and 20 Mar 1217

  Research Notes:

In the Curia Regis Roll for Michaelmas, 2 John (1200), Alan de Bocland sued the Prior of Plympton for three and a half 44 ferlingates of land in Bocland and half a “ ferlingate ” of land in Hoo as his right, and the prior answered that the said Guy, father of Alan, gave the land to the church and by his charter confirmed it, and he produced the said charter. Alan replied that if his father had given it he did so in his infirmity and when he was at the point of death. The case was to be heard before the King at the morrow of St. Hilary, when he should be in England.

This case was settled by a fine made on the octave of St. John, 8 John (1 July 1201), between Alan de Bocland, querent, and Juel, Prior of Plimpton, deforciant, for lands in Bocland and Hoo (Devon Fines, No. 45), and in the Assize Roll 22 Henry III. Isabel Giffard sued the Prior of Plimpton to compel him to carry out the terms of the fine that was levied in John’s reign by Alan de Bocland, father of Isabel, whose heir she was, and the said Prior regarding the lands in Bokeland (Cf. also Devon Fines, No. 271). On the morrow of St. John the Baptist, 12 Henry III. (25 June 1228), Alan Fitz Robert as querent levied a fine with Osbert Giffard and Isabel his wife, as tenants for a knight’s fee in Hauecnolle (Hanicknowle in St. Budeaux), whereby Alan remitted and quitclaimed to Osbert and Isabel and her heirs all his rights in the fee and Isabel paid him £10 (Devon Fines, No. 101).

The career of Alan de Bocland can be followed in the Patent and Close Rolls of King John. One of the knights of William Briwerre, the great Devon landholder and favourite of the King, he was one of the witnesses to the foundation of Tor Abbey by William, appears frequently as employed upon the royal business and adhered to the King throughout his stormy reign. He profited by his favour to acquire a part of his wife’s inheritance that had been bestowed in the previous reign upon her connection by marriage, Guy de Dive (Cf. Close Rolls, 18 John, m. 5). He was alive on 17 Aug. 1216, but by 20 March 1217 he was dead, as on that day the King granted to William Briwerre, during his pleasure, all the land that Matilda de Chandos had held, and also the lands of Henry de Columbariis in Wollaveton (Woolavington), which Alan de Bocland had held of the same fee (Close Rolls, vol. i., p. 301). On 15 April 1217 (1 Henry III.) an order was issued to the Sheriff of Oxford forbidding a plea between Alexander de Mildecumbe and Robert de Cauz, plaintiffs, and Alice, “ who was the wife of Alan de Bocland,” concerning three virgates in Dadington, of which Alan was seized by virtue of an order of the late king, and he was ordered to give Alice the full possession that her husband had enjoyed before the said plea arose (Close Rolls, p. 306). ¹