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  • Category: Research
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  • Author: Richardson, Douglas
  • Publisher: GEN-MEDIEVAL-L mailing list, July 29, 2015
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  • Text: Margaret, wife of Roger la Zouche (died 1238), of Black Torrington and King's Nympton, Devon, Fulbourn and Swavesey, Cambridgeshire, Tong, Shropshire, etc., was doubtless the daughter of Henry Biset (died 1208), of Kidderminster, Worcestershire, Rockbourne, Hampshire, Baliscadan [Balscadden] and Magorham (or Maggurman), co. Dublin, Ireland, etc., by an unknown 1st wife. Margaret evidently had a substantial maritagium on her marriage. In 1220 the king specifically reserved to her both her maritagium and dower, at which time her husband, Roger la Zouche, was going on a pilgrimage to Santiago in Spain [see Cal. of Patent Rolls, 1216-1225 (1901): 246, which reads: "Sciatis nos dedisse licenciam dilecto et fideli nostro Rogero la Zuche eundi peregre ad Sanctum Jacobum ... habeat omnia catalla sua et omnes exitus terrarum suarum a festo Sancti Michaelis anno regni nostri quarto in unum annum ... salvis Margarete uxori ipsius Rogeri maritagio et dote sua."]. Margaret's maritagium appears to have included the manor of North Tidworth, Wiltshire, a known Biset family property. Sometime in the period, 1199-1227, Margaret joined with her husband, Roger la Zouche, in granting a virgate of land in North Tidworth to Maiden Bradley Priory in Wiltshire [see Hatton, Books of Seals (1951): 128-129; VCH Wiltshire 3 (1956): 296]. Maiden Bradley Priory was a hospital for leper women, and was founded in 1164 by Henry Biset's father, Manasser Biset, steward of King Henry II [see VCH Wiltshire 3 (1956): 295-302; Notes & Queries 10th ser. 2 (1904): 69-70]. Margaret la Zouche was likely the Margaret la Zouche, lady of Farleigh, who was an early benefactor to Wintney Priory, Hampshire [see Dugdale, Monasticon Anglicanum 5 (1825): 722]. Farleigh appears to have been the manor of Farleigh Wallop, Hampshire, which manor was afterwards held by the descendants of Roger and Margaret la Zouche's younger son, William la Zouche [see VCH Hampshire 3 (1908): 364-366]. This manor was presumably also part of Margaret la Zouche's maritagium, as the Biset family is known to have had extensive estates in both Wiltshire and Hampshire. Sometime in the period, 1269-85, Roger la Zouche (grandson of Margaret) confirmed his father, Alan la Zouche's gift of a rent of 100s. in North Tidworth, Wiltshire to Maiden Bradley Priory, for which the convent granted a chaplain to celebrate the souls of Sir Alan la Zouche and his wife, Ellen [see VCH Wiltshire 3 (1956): 296; Desc. Cat. Ancient Deeds 3 (1900): 526]. Research further indicates that Roger and Margaret la Zouche had a younger son, Henry la Zouche, Rector of King's Nympton, Devon (his existence was hitherto unknown), who was likely named in honor of her father, Henry Biset [see Annual Rpt. of the Deputy Keeper 47 (1886): 258; Annual Rpt. of the Deputy Keeper 48 (1887): 120; Stapledon, Reg. of Walter de Stapeldon, Bishop of Exeter (A.D. 1307-1326) (1892): 226; Jenkinson & Formoy, Select Cases in the Exchequer of Pleas (Selden Soc. 48) (1932): 80-81]. Margaret la Zouche herself was presumably named for her father's sister, Margaret Biset, who built herself a house in the court of the hospital of Maiden Bradley Priory [see VCH Wiltshire 3 (1956): 295-302]. The elder Margaret Biset is recorded as having saved the life of King Henry III from an assassin at Worms in 1238, when the king went to Germany for the marriage of his sister, Isabel, to Emperor Friedrich II [see Notes & Queries 10th ser. 2 (1904): 69-70, citing Matthew Paris, Hist. Angl., ii 380, 412, 413; Annales Monastici iv. 431]; the elder Margaret Biset died at Bordeaux in 1242 ["obiit quoque mulier sanctissima apud Burdegalim Margareta Biset"].

    Thus, the passage of lands, the Zouche family's continued involvement with Maiden Bradley Priory (a Biset family foundation), and existing naming patterns all support the identification of Margaret la Zouche as a Biset.
Personal Names
PersonClaimDetailEvidence
Henry BisetNameHenry Biset [S2261] [S2262:491]
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Manasser BisetNameManasser Biset [S2261]
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Margaret BisetNameMargaret Biset [S2261]
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Roger la ZoucheNameRoger la Zouche [S756] [S2261] [S3180]
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Relationships
PersonClaimDetailEvidence
Margaret BisetFatherHenry Biset (e1160-1208) [S2261]
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Henry BisetFatherManasser Biset (e1130-<1179) [S2261]
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Events & Attributes
PersonClaimDateDetailAgeEvidence
Manasser BisetFlourishing1164England [S2261]
founded Maiden Bradley Priory
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Henry BisetDeath1208 [S2261]
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Roger la ZoucheDeath1238 [S2261]
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