The following is a lengthy excerpt from The Origin of the Giffords of Twyford, by G. Andrews Moriarty, Jun., A.M., LL.B. (Harvard), reprinted in The Genealogist, N.S., Vol XXXVIII, October, 1921, and January, 1922 (published at Exeter), which addresses the primary sources confirming John Giffard 'le Boef' as son of Osbert Giffard and Isabel de Bocland. Some of the following has been reproduced on the pages pertaining his parents and grandparents. It should be noted that the author switches from the spelling “Giffard” to “Gifford”.
Known as Sir John Giffard Le Boef. He was enfeoffed of two parts of a knight's fee in Twyford, by Robert FitzNicholas, steward of Henry III, prior to 1272. On 12 Mar 1276 he was mentioned as of Twyford in the Close Rolls, and in 1277, as John Giffard le Boef, he petitioned that the service Ralph Pipard should be performed in West Wales [Parliamentary Writs, vol 1, p 632]. In 1282 the said John Giffard was performing in Wales the service due from John Giffard of Brimsfield (ibid.). In 1284 he was summoned by a writ of quo warranto to show his right of frank pledge in Twyford, when he pleaded the feoffment by Robert FitzNicholas and called upon Robert's nephew, Ralph Pipard, to warrant, but was adjudged to be in mercy. Pipard sought in 1289-90 that he be restored [Parliamentary Rolls, vol 1]. In the Feudal Aid of 1284-1286 John Giffard le Boef held 15½ virgates of land in Charndon, co. Bucks, of the king, and 40 librates in Twyford of Ralph Pipard [Feudal Aids, vol 1, p 181]. On 3 May 1296 he was knight of the shire for co. Bucks, in a Parliament at Westminster--one of the earliest Parliaments [Parliamentary Writs, vol 1, p 632].
In the roll of arms, in the time of Edward I, known as the Planché Roll, the arms of John Giffard le Boef of Twyford are given as Gules, three lions passant in pale argent, and a label for difference. These are the arms of the Brimsfield Giffards with the mark of cadency. In the roll of arms printed with the parliamentary writs the arms of Sir John Giffard le Boef of Twyford are set down as "Sire Johann Gyffard le Boef De goules a III lions passant de argent e un label de azur."
That Sir John Gifford Ie Boef of Twyford, co. Bucks, Knight was probably a son of Osbert and Isabel (de Bokland) Gifford of the Brimsfield family is shown by a pardon for Geoffrey de Arcubus for the death of Hugh Ruffus, at the instance of John Gifford, son of Osbert Giffard, 10 Jan. 1266 (Calendar of Patent Rolls, Henry Ill, 1258-1266, p. 522). The John Gifford of this record can be no other than the son of the Osbert who died about 1237, as the latter's son Osbert, born in 1233 or 1234, could not have had a son John who was born early enough to be the John mentioned in the pardon, and Osbert, son of Richard Giffard the Justiciary, left no issue, and his sisters were his heirs. Moreover, John Gifford le Boef came from Devonshire, and he (and his son after him) held Accott in Devonshire and Astwell in Northamptonshire adversely to John Gifford, son of the second Osbert. Astwell at one time was held by the second Osbert.
In the Feet of Fines, Divers Counties, Bundle 284, file 20, No. 44, we find a fine made in the octave of the Holy Trinity, 4 Edward I, before the Justices at Westminster, between "John Gifford, son of Osbert Gifford," querant, and Agnes Banzan, deforciant, for the moiety of the Manor of Helidon, except one virgate, and in consideration therefor John granted her the aforesaid moiety to hold for life at 1d. rent yearly and the usual service, and also 10 librates of land in Twyford and Charndon in Bucks, for life at 1d. rent yearly, and after her death the same to remain to John and his heirs rendering therefor yearly a pair of white gloves or 1d. at Easter.
This fine is of course of the utmost importance in determining the origin of the Twyford Giffords and proves that John of Twyford was the son of an Osbert Gifford. It now remains to be shown what Osbert was the father of John and then who were the parents of that Osbert. At the beginning of Henry Ill's reign there were living three Osberts. These I shall designate as Osbert, son of Richard the Justiciar, otherwise Osbert Gifford of Norfolk ; Osbert Gifford of Brimsfield ; and Osbert Gifford, son of King John. I expect to show that the second of these was the father of John Gifford le Boef and that his wife was Isabella, daughter of Alan de Bocland and Alice Murdac, and that Osbert, son of Richard, the Justiciar, married Isabella de Frivill.
The first question is to identify the father of John of Twyford. For this purpose it becomes necessary to study the history of the manors of Astwell and Tansor in the county of Northants. The Inquisition of Osbert Gifford and Alice Murdac was taken 24 July, 31 Henry III (Cal. Inq. Post Mortem, Henry III, No. 112), and the lands belonging to Osbert and Alice are carefully differentiated. Their heir is stated to be Osbert, son of Osbert, and his age is given as 12½, 13 and 13½ years.
Osbert held in Somerset the manor of Foxcote of Maurice de Berkeley by service of half a knight's fee. In Gloucester he held in Pinchecomb 1 carucate and 28s. rent of the King in socage, and in Acton vill he held 40s. rent of Elias Gifford. In Devonshire, Hekebokel manor, including Compton Hanknolle and Hoo, were some time held by Osbert and his wife Isabel, out of which the Prior of Plimpton has 12s. frankalmoin and the advowson of the church of Ekebokel. In Oxford Alice Murdac held of her sister, Beatrice, one-fourth of Stanlac manor ; in Dadington she held one-third of the manor of the King by service of one-third of two knights' fees ; in Nether Horton she held 44s. rent of the wardship of Osbert Gifford, and in Derneford she held 60s. rent. In Northants Alice held one-fourth of one half of the town of Teynford of the Honour of Wallingford, and in Tannemer (Tansor) one carucate held of Ralph de Kameis (Camoys). In Dorset Osbert Gifford held Langham manor in Gillingham in capite rendering one pair of spurs yearly or 4d., and also the manor of Winterborn Hueton, which was held of Reginald de Mohun at fee farm for £14 10s. yearly and the service of two fees.
This property descended to Osbert Gifford, the baron of Edward I, who was sued in the 19 Edward I by Sarah, who was the wife of his son, Osbert, deceased, claiming her dower thirds in the manors of Astwell and Faucotes in Northants, Dadinton in Oxon, Winterburn in Dorset, and Foxcote and Theaumes in Somerset. (De Banco Roll, 87, Hil. 19 Edward I, m. 128). A suit brought by Philip de Willugby, the King's Clerk, against Osbert Gifford, Senr., in the quindene of the Hilary term, 20 Edward I, shows that Sara had recovered her dower in Astwell and Dadyngton and that Osbert, son of Osbert, left a daughter Alice, who was his heir. In the same suit we find mention of the tenements in Astwell held by John GifTord which were part of the dower of Sara. (Coram Rege Roll, 131 m. 42 ; Easter, 20 Edward I.)
We must now consider in particular the manors of Astwell and Tansor. On the morrow of All Souls', 53 Henry III, a fine was levied between Osbert Gifford querant and Ralph de Wedon deforciant for 15 librates of land in Astwell and Faucote, and Osbert in consideration gave Ralph two carucates of land in Crewulton for life, he rendering yearly at Easter a pair of white gauntlets or 1d., and on his death to revert to Osbert and his heirs. In the Feudal Aid for 1284 we find that Osbert Gifford held in Astwell and Faucote of Ralph de Wedon, and in the Aid of 1428 John Stokes (i.e., the second husband of Isabel, the widow of Roger Gifford of Twyford, Cf. " New England Hist. Genealogical Register," vol. lxxiv, p. 268) held in Astwell, Faucote, and Syresham the lands formerly held by Robert Gifford and the Prior of Barkeley, of value of 3s. 4d.
In Trinity Term, 4-5 Edward II, Richard de Arcy and wife Alice claimed against George, son of John Gifford, two parts of the manor of Astwell in right of Alice, by the writ of " de forma donacionis," and George pleaded that he held by the gift of John Gifford of Twyford and called upon his son John to warrant. (De Banco Roll, Trinity Term, 4-5 Edward II, m. 91.) There can be little doubt that the plaintiff in this suit was Alice, daughter of Osbert Gifford, the younger, and Sara, who is mentioned in the Coram Rege Roll, Easter Term, 20 Edward I, above cited. In the Assize Roll of Northants, 3 Edward III, Edward, son of John Gifford, claimed against John Gifford of Twyford the manor of Astwell, and declared that Osbert Gifford gave it to his son John and the heirs of his body and that upon the death of John, son of Osbert, it ought to descend to the said Edward, the son and heir of the said John. In reply John of Twyford pleaded that John never had anything in the said manor by reason of the gift of Osbert. At the trial Edward defaulted and was declared to be in mercy. (Northampton Assize Roll 629, 3 Edward III, m. 1, 2 and 9.) This suit was one of a number brought by John, son of Osbert Gifford, and his son, Edward, after his father's death, at the commencement of Edward Ill's reign, to recover the lands of Osbert Gifford, the Baron of Edward I's time. It appears that this Osbert had aliened a great part of his lands to Hugh le Despencer and also to one John Abel and his wife Margery, and, upon the fall of the Despencers, John, Osbert 's son, came forward with his claims (Cf. Cal. Inq. Misc., 6 March, 1 Edward III, and Cal. Ancient Deeds A 249, A 250, A 252, A 253, A 5802, A 5003, A 6864, and also Dorset Fines, 25 Edward I, p. 221). Ancient Petitions file 295, No. 14720 A is a petition of John, son of Osbert Gifford, regarding the manor of Winterburn Hewton in Dorset, that shows that Osbert Gifford had aliened the said manor to Hugh le Despencer, disinheriting John, and that Hugh had had John imprisoned during the life of Osbert, and now, upon the forfeiture of Hugh, John seeks to recover his patrimony. Ancient Petitions file 295, No. 14720 B (writ dated 28 April, 5 Edward III) shows that John had died shortly before, and his son, Edward, brought a similar petition to the preceding. In 2 Edward III, Edward, son of John Gifford, sued John Gifford of Twyford for the manor of Ackote in Devon, and Joan, who was the wife of Robert Bendyn, for the manors of Compton Gifford and Eckebokeland in the same county. (De Banco Roll, 275, Michaelmas 2 Edward III, m. 330.)
We must now turn once more to the subsequent history of Astwell manor. On 5 Feb. 1429-30 a bond was given by John Stokes of Twyford, co. Bucks (i.e., the second husband of Isabel, widow of Roger Gifford) and Thomas Gilford of Twyford, to Thomas Chambre, William Vaux and Thomas Tresham to give Alianora, daughter of William Vaux deceased, a sufficient estate for her life in the manors of Astwell and Helidon in Northants and in two carucates of land at Water Stratford co. Bucks. (Close Rolls, 8 Henry VI, 280, m. 13 dorso.) This was the marriage settlement of Thomas Gifford of Twyford upon his wife Eleanor Vaux (Cf. New England Historic Genealogical Register, vol. lxxiv, pp. 267-268). In 36 Henry VI Sir Thomas Billing and his wife Katherine were querants, and Thomas Gifford and his wife Alienora were deforciants of Giffords manor in Astwell (Cf. Bridges' Northamptonshire, vol. i, p. 214). In the Coram Rege Roll, Easter Term, 17 Edward IV, No. 62 m. 20 (Northants) Thomas Billing, knight, Chief Justice of King's Bench, entailed the manor of Astwell called Byllings manor held by Thomas Bylling and Katherine his wife, and the ultimate remainder was to the right heirs of Roger Gifford, the father of Katherine the wife of Thomas Bylling. This settlement was dated 20 Oct. 16 Edward IV.
These documents show that Osbert Gifford, the Baron of Edward I, acquired Astwell from Ralph de Wedon, and that he must have enfeoffed John Gifford of Twyford of a part thereof. That his son and grandson sought to recover from the Twyford family without success and that it descended to Roger Gifford of Twyford, who died in 1409 (Inq. Post Mortem, Chanc. Series, Henry IV, file 71, No. 19) leaving his son and heir Thomas Gifford aged one year and more. Katherine, the daughter of Roger, married Sir Thomas Billing, the Lord Chief Justice of Henry VI and Edward IV, and Astwell was eventually granted by Thomas Gifford to Billing and his wife.
We now turn to the manor of Tansor in Northants. We have seen that Alice Murdac, whose Inq. Post Mortem was taken in the 31st year of Henry III, held one carucate in Tansor of Ralph de Camoys at his death. In the Nomina Villarum 1316 we find that Taneshouere (Tansor) vill was held by the Abbot de Crouland, John Gifford, Ralph Camoys and Elias de Tyndale.
Fifteen days before St. Hilary, 9 Edward III, a fine was levied between William Casse querant and Ralph de Cammoys chevaler, deforciant, of the manor of Tanesore, and among the rights granted to Casse was " the homage of John Gifford le Boef of Twyford and his heirs of all the tenements which he held of the said Ralph in the vill of Tanesore." (Feet of Fines, Case 177, file 75, No. 161, Northants.) In 6 Richard II a fine was levied between John Holt and John Wade parson, querants, and Thomas Gifford chivaler, deforciant, of the manor of Tannesover and the 40s. rent which William de Themelby and Alice his wife held for her life therein. (Feet of Fines, Northants, Case 178, file 87, No. 55.) This was Thomas Gifford of Twyford who died in 18 Richard II (Inq. Post Mortem, Chanc. Series, Richard II, file 83, No. 16). Alice, the wife of William de Themelby, was the second wife and widow of Sir John Gifford of Twyford, father of Thomas.
A suit in the De Banco Rolls, 7 Richard II, was brought to show by what right William de Themelby and Alice, his wife, claimed 40s. rent in Tannesover. The suit states that long before the preceding fine was levied, Richard de Montford and William Dodyngseles were seised of the manor (clearly they were feoffees) and they granted the same to John Gifford of Twyford, knight, and Alice his then wife, for the term of their lives, remainder to Thomas, son of the said John Gifford, and his heirs, which grant was made on the Monday before Christmas, 37 Edward III (De Banco Roll, 491, m. 522, Mich., 7 Richard II). There can be no doubt but that Tansor held by Osbert Gifford the first descended to his son and heir Osbert, the Baron of Edward I, and that he enfeoffed John Gifford of Twyford thereof.
We now turn to a series of entries from Hunter's Select Rolls and the Calendar of the Patent Rolls. On 10 Jan. 1266, a pardon was granted to Geoffrey de Arcubus for the death of Hugh Ruffus at the instance of John Gifford, son of Osbert Gifford. (Cal. Pat. Rolls, 1258-1266, p. 532.) On 24 Aug. 1265, a grant was made to John Gifford, the younger, of a carucate in Bekkebroc, co. Oxon, late the land of Jacob, son of Mosseus de London, a Jew, who was enfeoffed thereof by John del Escheker. (Cal. Pat. Rolls, 1258-1266.) This entry can only refer to John Gifford le Boef of Twyford as the Inqs. Post Mortem of the Twyford family show them to have been seised of 5 messuages and 5 virgates of land in the vill of Bekebruk held of Roger Cheyne. (Cf. New England Hist. Geneal. Reg., vol lxxiv, p. 232 et seq.) It should be noted also that he is called John Gifford the younger because, as I shall later show, he was younger than John Gifford, the Baron of Brimsfield.
In 1266 a pardon was given to Osbert Gifford, in consideration of his strenuous aid at Evesham against the King's enemies for all his trespasses and excess in the late disturbance and for adhering to Simon de Montfort, sometime Ear] of Leicester in the conflict at Lewes. (Cal. Pat. Rolls, 1258-1266, p. 670.)
Turning now to Hunter's Select Rolls we find in the " Placita de Terris Datis et Oceupatis occasione turbaciones in Regno Angliae " the following entries : —
John, brother of Osbert Gifford, seized the hinds of Robert Fitz Ralph Fitz Nicholas in Bulme, after Evesham, and the King later gave them to the same John by the hand of John, son of the Preabvter. The King also gave to John, brother of Osbert GifTord, the manor of Fan- bergh (Finebergh) which Gilbert le Poer seized after Evesham from the same Robert Fitz Ralph Fitz Nicholas.
On 10 March 1268 a pardon was given to Osbert Gifford and John Gifford for their trespasses by occasion of the non-observance of the Provisions of Oxford. (Cal. Pat. Rolls, 1266 1272, p. 279.)
At this point we may, I think, sum up the evidence. There can be no doubt that Osbert Gifford, the Baron of Edward I, was identical with the Osbert, son of Osbert Gifford, whose Inq. Post Mortem was taken with that of Alice Murdac in 31 Henry III, because he is found holding their lands. This Osbert had, as the entries from Hunter's Select Rolls show, a brother John. We find that John Gifford of Twyford and his descendants held in Astwell and Tansor, the former of which was acquired by Osbert, the younger, and the latter of which appears in the Inq. Post Mortem of the elder Osbert in 31 Henry III. We further know that John Gifford of Twyford was the son of an Osbert Gifford, so it seems clear that he must be the younger son of Osbert Gifford whose Inq. Post Mortem was taken in 31 Henry III.
To the above evidence may be added the proof of the heraldic bearings of John Gifford of Twyford. In the Planché Roll, so called (The Genealogist, N.S., vol. iv, p. 18), John Gifford le Boef bore "Gules three lions passant in pale argent with a label of five pendants azure." (Cf. General Wrottesley's Giffords from the Conquest: The Twyford Giffords.) And in the Parliamentary Roll of Edward II, Sir John Gifford le Boef of Oxon. (i.e., at this time he was holding the lands in Coges, Somerton, and Fringford, Oxon, which were part of the Arsic inheritance of his wife Alexandra de Gardinis) bore : " Gules three lyons passant in pale argent with a label azure." These same arms, with a label sable for difference, were borne by Osbert Gifford, the Baron, in the Nobility Roll of 1297. (Cf., Some Feudal Coats of Arms and Pedigrees, by Foster.) And it may here be noted that the arms of John Gifford, Baron of Brimsfield, were given in 1295, in the Nobility, Parliamentary and Arundel Rolls as " Gules 3 lyons passant in pale argent."
It now appearing that Osbert Gifford, senr., had two sons, Osbert, aged between 12 and 13½ years in 31 Henry III, and a younger son John who became John Gifford of Twyford, we may now turn to the consideration of the date of the elder Osbert's death and why his Inq. Post Mortem was taken with that of Alice Murdac.
On 23 June 1236, an order was issued to Robert de Aundel', bailiff of Gillingham, to give Osbert Gifford service of 3 virgates belonging to Gervase Bailleben in Gillingham. (Calendar Close Rolls, 1234- 1237, p. 281.) This refers to the Langham lands in Gillingham which appear in the Inq. Post Mortem of 31 Henry III, which were held in capite by service of rendering 1 pair of spurs yearly or 4d. (Cf. Inq. Post Mortem supra), because in the Calendar of Charter Rolls, vol. i, p. 103, there is recorded a gift to Osbert Gifford and his heirs of three virgates in Gillingham escheated to the King by reason of the flight of Gervase Baillebyen charged with robbery, by service of rendering a pair of spurs yearly or 1d., dated 22 Oct. 1229.
In 1238 Alan's daughter, Isabella, had to complain to the court in Exeter that the new prior, Robert, was not honouring the agreement made between her father and the previous Prior. She won her case and Robert agreed that Isabella and her heirs should hold the manor forever.
Isabella married Osbert Giffard and the tenacy continued in the Giffard family without a break until 1306 when there was a quarrel between two members of the Giffard family, Ralph and Osbert, both of whom claimed Hooe. Following a court case at Westminster Osbert acknowledged Ralph's right to the Manor and Ralph agreed to Osbert's possession until he died, when it would revert to Ralph and not pass to the descendants of Osbert.
On 17 October, 21 Henry III (1237) an order was issued to the Sheriff of Gloucester, because it appeared to the King that Osbert Gifford held his lands in Pichelecumb " in socage and because Isabel, who was the wife of Osbert, is the next of kin to the heir of Osbert, that Isabel is to have full seisin of the land with respect to the custody thereof. A similar order was issued to Robert de Audely regarding Osbert's lands in Gillingham. And at the same time the Lady Isabel Gifford made Hamo de Karevil her attorney against the Prior of Plimpton, with respect to the many contributions and services which he demands with reference to the tenement of Isabel, in Bocland and Hoo (Cal. Close Rolls, 1234-1237, pp. 503 and 571.) On 8 July, 26 Henry III (1242) an order was issued to Gr. de Segrave, forest justice, that as Isabel, who was the wife of Osbert Gifford, and had custody of his tenements in Gillingham, and was the next of kin to Osbert's heirs, is now dead, her mother Alice Murdac, the next of kin to Osbert's heirs since Isabel's death, shall have the custody of the said Gillingham lands of Osbert until the heir is of full age. (Cal. Close Rolls, 1237-42, p. 448.) In 31 Henry III (1247) Ralph Fitz Nicholas made a fine with the King for 40 marks for the custody of the lands and heir of Alice Harang and Osbert Gifford, until the coming of age of the heir and also for his marriage. (Excerpt e. Rot. Fin., p. 16.)
Turning now to the parentage of Isabel, the wife of Osbert Gifford, we find that in the Rotuli Curice Regis for 1199-1200, Alan de Bocland and the Prior of Plimpton were given a licence to levy a fine in Devonshire on the octaves of St. Hilary. In the Devon Assize Roll, 22 Henry III, Isabel Gifford sued the Prior of Plimpton to compel him to carry out the terms of a fine levied in the time of King John by Alan de Bocland, father of Isabel, whose heir she was, with the Prior of Plimpton respecting lands in Bocland. This Alan de Bocland was one of the knights of William de Briwerre, the councillor of King John, and was greatly trusted and advanced by him. On 18 August, 18 John (1216) an order was issued to the Sheriff of Oxford to give seisin to Robert Mauduit and Alan de Bocland, knights of William de Briwerre, of the lands given to Wido de Dive in fee in the manor of Dadington (co. Oxon). (Rot. Litt. Glaus, in turre Lond. asset.)...
These records prove that Osbert Gilford died between 23 June 1236 and 17 Oct. 1237. That his wife was Isabel, daughter of Alan de Bocland, and his wife Alice Murdac, the daughter and co-heiress of Ralph Murdac, the Justiciar of Richard I and of Eva de Grey daughter of John de Grey of Rotherfield in Oxon. (Cf. Eynsham Cartulary in the Oxford Historical Society Collections, vol. i, pp. 84 and 90.) Isabel, the wife of Osbert Gifford, died before 8 July 1242 and Alice Murdac, who re-married Ralph Harang, a Judge of Henry III, was appointed guardian of her grandson, the infant Osbert Gilford, who was born between 1233 and 1235, and so John Gifford le Boef, his younger brother, must have been born in 1236 or 1237 ; he was therefore called the younger in the entry from the Close Rolls of 24 Aug. 1265, regarding the land in Bigbrooke before cited, to distinguish him from John Gifford, the Baron of Brimsfleld, who was born in or about 1232-3. 1
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