RICHARD FITZ GILBERT

'Richard FitzGilbert' (1030 - 1090), was a Norman lord who came with the Conqueror to conquer England in 1066. He was the founder of the noble family, the de Clares.
Known as "de Bienfaite", "de Clare", and "de Tonbridge", he accompanied his reputed kinsman William, Duke of Normandy into England. He served at the Battle of Hastings, and assisted William in subduing the Anglo-Saxons. He was rewarded with 176 lordships and large grants of land in England, including the right to build the castles of Clare and of Tonbridge. Richard took the name Earl of Clare from one of his lordships in Suffolk, where parts of the wall of Clare Castle still stand.
He served as Joint Chief Justiciar in William's absence, and played a major part in suppressing the revolt of 1075.
On William's death, Richard and other great Norman barons, including Odo of Bayeux, Robert, Count of Mortain , William fitzOsbern and Geoffrey of Coutances, led a rebellion against the rule of Rufus in order to place Robert Curthose on the throne. However, most Normans in England remained loyal. Rufus and his army successfully attacked the rebel strongholds at Tonbridge, Pevensey and Rochester.
After a siege at Tonbridge Castle, Richard was forced to surrender to Rufus. Richard was punished by having his castle and the town of Tonbridge burnt to the ground. He died in St. Neot's Priory in 1090. His land was inherited by his son, Gilbert Fitz Richard.

Contents

Family

Surrey

Reference

Family

His was the son of Gilbert "Crispin", Count of Brionne.
The reference listed below states that Richard's Great Grandfather was Richard I of Normandy. Richard's father is also sometimes listed as Robert I "the Devil", father of William the Conqueror. Sources as far back as the ''Annals of the Four Masters'' claim that Richard's great-grandson, Richard "Strongbow", was the direct descendant of Robert "the Devil". Gilbert "Crispin" is a descendant of Robert's cousin, but not Robert himself.

Name	Birth	Death	Notes
'''By Rohese Giffard''', married 1054, (ca. 1034-1133), daughter of Sir Walter Giffard, Lord of Longueville, and Agnes Flaitel.
''Miss (Fitz Gilbert) de Clare''	1055 Normandy, France
''Walter de Clare, Lord of Nether Gwent''	1058	1138
''Ronais Fitz Gilbert''	1060	Unknown
''Richard Fitz Richard de Clare, Abbot of Ely''	1062	1107
''Roger Fitz Richard de Clare''	1064	1131
'Gilbert Fitz Richard'	1065	1115	Succeeded his father as Earl of Clare.
''Robert Fitz Richard, Lord of Little Dunmow, Baron of Baynard''	1064	1136
''Rohese de Clare''	1067	1121	m. (ca. 1088), Eudo de Rie.
''Adelize de Clare''	1069	1138	m. Walter Tirel

The modern Irish county of County Clare was historically part of the North Munster Gaelic kingdom of Thomond, dominated by the O'Briens, Kings of Thomond. The region was granted to the De Clare family in 1275 and they became Lords of Thomond. When the boundaries of the modern County Clare were fixed by Sir Henry Sidney in 1565, it was named after the De Clares.

Surrey

Richard's Surrey lands had a value of £241: 30% of the value of his English lands. Within Surrey, Richard Fitz Gilbert owned manors in the following places: Albury, Beddington, Bletchingley, Buckland, Chelsham, Chessington, Chipstead, Chivington, Effingham, Apps in Elmbridge, Farleigh, Immerworth (Kingston upon Thames), Long Ditton, Mickleham, Molesey, Ockley, Old Malden, Shalford, Streatham, Tandridge, Tolworth, Tooting, Walton-on-Thames, Warlingham, Tillingdon, and Woldingham.^[1]

Reference

★ ''The Royal Ancestry Bible Royal ancestors of 300 American Families'' By Michel L. Call ISBN 1-933194-22-7 (chart 1696)
1. Surrey Domesday Book