Alesia de Grendon

Events

Date of Birth: unknown.

Place of Birth: unknown.

Date of Death: unknown.

Place of Death: unknown.

Relationships

(supposed) Father: Robert de Grendon of Grendon and Shenstone, Staffordshire.

This relationship is given by the Lancashire VCH (6:sub Walton-le-Dale) and by Grazebrook (p. 294). There was a Robert senior and a Robert junior. The VCH and Grazebrook give Robert senior as the father, but the same chronological difficulties appear as mentioned below for Avicia. Perhaps Robert senior had a second wife.

(supposed) Mother: Avicia de Bray.

This relationship is given by Grazebrook (p. 294). However, the Complete Peerage (6:109 fn e) does not mention Alesia as a daughter of Avicia and estimates the date of Robert and Avicia’s marriage as 1189, which would seem to make it chronologically difficult for Alesia to have had children from a 1269 marriage.

Spouse: Philip de Legh.

This relationship is given by the Lancashire VCH (6:sub Walton-le-Dale).

Spouse: Sir Robert Banastre. Married in 1269.

This relationship is given by the Lancashire VCH (6:sub Walton-le-Dale).

Children (by Philip):

Robert de Legh.

Children (by Sir Robert):

James Banastre married Ellen, daughter of William le Boteler.

Clemency Banastre married William de Lea.

Evidence

Charter 14 (49) (undated) given by Grazebrook (pp. 255-256) makes it clear that Alesia, daughter of Robert de Grendon, married Philip de Legh. In that charter, Philip is selling back to Robert a mill in Shenstone that Robert had given to Philip in free marriage with his daughter, Alesia.

The Coram Rege Roll of Hillary, 22 Edw. 1 (Wrottesley 7:10) makes it clear that Alesia was Philip’s widow in 1269. She was suing Robert de Grendon for two mills in Shenstone.

A suit in Banco Roll Hillary, 25 Edw. 1 (Wrottesley 7:39) lays out the relationships in Philip’s family.

In Banco Roll, No. 6, Trinity Term, 1 Edw. 1 (Wrottesley 6:1:61), an Alesia and her husband, Robert Banastre, are sued by Scolastica, widow of Robert de Grendon, for one third of a mill in Shenstone which Scolastica claimed as dower. (Trinity Term 1 Edward 1 was in the spring of 1273).

Grazebrook, followed by the Lancashire VCH vol. 6, interprets this evidence thus:

Alesia, daughter of Robert de Grendon (senior), married (1) Philip de Legh and (2) Robert Banastre.

Scolastica married Alesia’s brother, Robert de Grendon (junior).

A wrinkle is that Grazebrook’s Charter 11 (40) (undated) (p. 252) mentions as children of Robert (senior): Robert (junior), Richard, and Cecily, but not Alesia. The charter must date to 1220, or before, which is

References

Grazebrook, H. Sydney. “Shenstone Charters” in Collections for a History of Staffordshire: Volume 17 (London, 1896).

A History of the County of Lancaster: Volume 6 (Victoria County Histories, 1911).

Wrottesley, G. “Extracts from the Plea Rolls A.D. 1272 to A.D. 1294” in Collections for a History of Staffordshire: Volume VI Part I (London: The William Salt Archaeological Society, 1885).

Wrottesley, G. “Extracts from the Plea Rolls A.D. 1272 to A.D. 1294” in Collections for a History of Staffordshire: Volume VII (London: The William Salt Archaeological Society, 1886).