Isabel (Vipont) de Clifford (abt. 1251 - bef. 1292)

Born about 1251 in Westmorland, England [uncertain]

Ancestors

Wife of Roger (Clifford) de Clifford — married after 28 Jun 1265 in England

Descendants

Died before 14 May 1292 before about age 41 in England [uncertain]

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Magna Carta Project WikiTree [send private message] and Michelle Brooks [send private message]

Magna Carta Surety Baron Descendant (see text). Join: Magna Carta Project Discuss: magna_carta

Isabel de Vipont is in badged trails to Magna Carta surety barons Hugh le Bigod and Roger le Bigod (see text below).

Biography

Isabel de Vipont was the elder daughter and co-heiress of Robert de Vipont (or Vieuxpont) of Appleby and Isabel, daughter of John Fitz Geoffrey (often called "Isabel Fitz John").^[1][2] Isabel's date of birth is unknown, but is thought to be about 1251 as she was said on 15 June 1269 to be of age.^[1][2]

Inheritance

When Isabel's father, Robert de Vipont (or de Veteripont), died in 1264/5, King Henry III seized his possessions. Henry III's son, Edward, interceded and the property was restored to Robert's two heiresses: Isabel, age ten, and Idoine, age six or seven. The king committed the girls to the custody of Roger de Clifford of Herefordshire and Roger de Leyburn of Kent. Marriages to their respective heirs were arranged quickly. In the meantime, the two guardians came to an agreement as to the division of the estates between the two girls, confirmed when Roger de Clifford, the younger, married Isabel.^[3] Idoine married Roger, son of Roger de Leyburne. Both women were widowed by 1283.^[1][3]

Marriage and Child

Isabel married soon after 28 June 1265 Roger de Clifford, son and heir apparent (but died in his father's lifetime) of Sir Roger de Clifford of Tenbury, Worcestershire, by his first wife, Maud, widow of Hugh de Gournay.^[1][2] They had one son:

• Robert de Clifford, Knt., son and heir, 1st Lord Clifford, born about April [1274], died June 1314, married Maud de Clare and had issue.^[1]

Death of Roger de Clifford

Roger de Clifford was drowned while crossing a bridge of boats near the Menai Straits in Wales 6 November 1282.^[1][2] Isabel's sister Idoine's husband, Roger de Leybourne died soon after Isabel's husband. Roger's "widow, Isabella, survived her husband about eight years, and sat personally in court and executed the office of Sheriff".^[3]

An Inquisition taken after the death of Roger de Clifford can be viewed at British History Online. It was taken at Appleby "on Saturday after Hilary, 11 Edward 1" (1282) and named his first born son Robert as his heir (aged nine years at Easter). (Chanc. Inq. p. mortem, 11 Edw. I, file 35, n. 5).^[3]

Isabel's Death and Legacy

Isabel, died testate shortly before 14 May 1292.^[1][2] Her sister, Idonea, lived until 1333 and married a second husband but died without issue, leaving the entire Vipont inheritance to pass down to the heirs of Isabel and Roger de Clifford.^[3] An "Inquest taken after the death of Isabel de Clifford, one of the daughters and heirs of Robert de Veteripont, taken at Appleby on Friday after St. Barnabas the Apostle, 20 Edw. I, 1291, before the King's Escheator beyond the Trent, as to what the said Isabel held of the king in chief and what of others, in co. Westmorland the day that she died."^[3] It was determined that she held property in chief of the king, including:^[3]

• The castle of Appleby
• The manor of Brougham in
• The manor of Brough under Stainmore
• The manor of Winton
• The manor of Kirkby Stephen

The Inquisition also determined that her son, Robert de Clifford, was her next heir, being aged 18 at Easter 1291 (Excheq. Inq. p. mortem, Series 1, file 1, n. 27).^[3]

Research Notes

Previously-shown Second Marriage

Isabel has previously been shown as have married again after the death of Roger de Clifford, her second husband being given as Richard Whitfield.

The suggestion appears to stem from an 1836 work by the antiquary John Palmer, The Descent of the family of Whitfield of Whitfield Hall in Northumberland from the Saxon earls of Mercia; and the Norman families of Meschines, D'Estrivers, Egaine, Buslie and Espee.^[4][5][6]

Richardson^[1][2] has no mention of a second husband for Isabel. John Brooks Threlfall in his 1989 book The Ancestry of Reverend Henry Whitfield (1590-1657) and His Wife Dorothy Sheafe (159?-1669) of Guilford, Connecticut states categorically that IF Richard Whitfield married someone called Isabel de Vipont, "she was not the daughter of Robert and widow of Roger de Clifford, as claimed."^[7] Richard's son Robert was joint signatory with his brother granting lands in Alston, Cumberland to Ivo de Veteriponte (Vipont), and Richard was Lord of Whitfield in 1352,^[7] but this is no evidence of a marriage to the Isabel de Vipont of this profile. Ivo himself is currently shown on WikiTree (as at 17 April 2020) as married to an Isabel de Vipont of unknown parentage.

The documentary evidence arguing strongly against any such marriage is:

• Isabel died with a will, but this does not seem to have been found and may not have survived. However a document relating to a 1293 lease and other matters relating to Joan, daughter of William de Souleby, names two executors of her will, with the will described as that of Lady Isabel de Clifford. Joan would appear to have become a ward of Isabel: the document also mentions the right to determine Joan's marriage and makes provision for her upbringing. This document suggests that Isabel was still de Clifford when she made the will, and that she may not have a second marriage.^[8] The writ for an IPM for William de Soulesby was dated 10 January 20 Edward I (10 January 1291/2),^[9] and this points to Isabel's making her will after this.
• The Inquisition Post Mortem after Isabel's death refers to her as Isabel de Clifford. There is no mention of a second husband (see Death and Legacy above).
• A petition of about 1292, very shortly after Isabel’s death, refers to the wardship of the heir of the Lady Clifford, suggesting that she was Lady Clifford at her death.^[10]
• In a document dated 1283-1289 Isabel de Clifford, widow, made a gift of lands at a place called Burton.^[11]
• In 16 Edward I (a year which commenced on 20 November 1287), Isabel, late the wife of Roger de Clifford the Younger, granted the advowson of the church of Warcop and some land at Reagill to the abbot and convent of Shap, Westmorland.^[12]

It is clear that Isabel was styled Isabel de Clifford up to and including the time of her death, with no reference to her having a second husband called Richard Whitfield.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7} Douglas Richardson, Magna Carta Ancestry: A Study in Colonial and Medieval Families, 2nd edition, 4 vols., ed. Kimball G. Everingham, (Salt Lake City, Utah: the author, 2011), vol. I, page 502, CLIFFORD 5, Isabel de Vipont.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5} Douglas Richardson. Royal Ancestry: A Study in Colonial and Medieval Families, 5 vols., ed. Kimball G. Everingham. Salt Lake City, UT: the author, 2013, vol. II, page 239, 241-242.
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7} John F. Curwen. "Parishes (West Ward): St Ninian, Brougham" in The Later Records Relating To North Westmorland Or the Barony of Appleby. Kendal: Titus Wilson and Son, 1932, pages 278-290. Accessed online 16 April 2020 at British History Online.
4. ↑ Manuscript in the Palmer Collection at the Chetham Library
5. ↑ Wikipedia: Whitfield Family, accessed 18 April 2020
6. ↑ Duane L Jones. 'Re: Whitfields in Cumberland UK', forum post, 19 February 2012, on Genealogy.com
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1} John Brooks Threlfall, The Ancestry of Reverend Henry Whitfield (1590-1657) and His Wife Dorothy Sheafe (159?-1669) of Guilford, Connecticut. Madison, WI: J.B. Threlfall, 1989, pp. 115-116. Viewable on Familysearch.
8. ↑ 1593 lease, Cumbria Archive Centre, ref. D/WYB/2/46, information from National Archives website accessed 17 November 2019
9. ↑ "Inquisitions Post Mortem, Edward I, File 61", in Calendar of Inquisitions Post Mortem, Volume 3, Edward I, ed. J.E.E.S. Sharp and A.E. Stamp (London, 1912), pp. 1-15, entry 21, British History Online, accessed 17 November 2019
10. ↑ The National Archives, ref. SC 8/193/9627, website accessed 17 November 2019
11. ↑ Gift of Burton lands, Cumbria Archive Centre, ref. D/WYB/2/42, information from National Archives website accessed 19 November 2019
12. ↑ The National Archives, ref. C 143/11/18, National Archives website accessed 17 November 2019

• Richardson, Douglas. Magna Carta Ancestry: A Study in Colonial and Medieval Families, 4 vols., ed. Kimball G. Everingham. 2nd edition. (Salt Lake City, UT: the author, 2011). See also WikiTree's source page for Magna Carta Ancestry.
• Richardson, Douglas. Royal Ancestry: A Study in Colonial and Medieval Families, 5 vols., ed. Kimball G. Everingham. (Salt Lake City, UT: the author, 2013). See also WikiTree's source page for Royal Ancestry.

See also:

• Richardson, Royal Ancestry, (2013), vol. II, page 241; vol. V, page 185.
• Calendar of Inquisitions Post Mortem and Other Analogous Documents preserved in the Public Record Office (H.M. Stationery Office, London)

• Vol. 1, Page 229: #717. "Isabel, wife of Roger son and heir of Roger de Clifford, and eldest daughter and one of the heirs or Robert de Verteri Ponte."
• Vol. 3, Pages 53-54: #70 "Isabel de Clyfford, one of the daughters and heirs of Robert de Veteri Ponte." "Robert her son, aged 18 on the feast of St. Michael next, is her next heir."

• Weis, F.L. Ancestral Roots of Certain American Colonists who came to America before 1700, 8th ed. (Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Pub. Co., 2004). Line 82-31, page 88. HathiTrust.
• Stephen, Sir Leslie. Robert de Clifford (her son) in Dictionary of National Biography, Vol. 11, (New York: Macmillan, 1885-1900), page 70.
• Lewis, Marlyn. Isabel de Vipont entry in Our Royal, Titled, Noble, and Commoner Ancestors and Cousins website, accessed 16 Apr 2020.

Acknowledgements

Click the Changes tab to see the edits to this profile. Thank you to everyone who contributed.

Magna Carta Project

This profile was re-reviewed and approved for the Magna Carta Project on 16 Apr 2020 by Thiessen-117.

Isabel de Vipont is a descendant of Magna Carta Surety Barons Hugh le Bigod and Roger le Bigod. She appears in a trails badged by the Magna Carta Project between the Bigods and the following Gateway Ancestors:

• Bernard Gateways (Richard and William): badged in 2015. See the trail HERE.
• Joseph Bolles (MCA I:247-249 BOLLES): the trails the Bigods was badged in December 2022 and is set out HERE.
• Saint Leger Codd: connected in 2019 to existing trail badged in 2015. See the trails HERE.
• Henry Corbin (MCA I:533-535 CORBIN): badged trail was connected to this Gateway before 2018. The trails are set out HERE.
• Edward Digges: badged after Jun 2015. See the trails HERE.
• John Fisher: badged in/about 2015, re-reviewed in April 2020. See the profiles in this trail HERE.
• Warham Horsmanden: badged May 2020. See the trails HERE.
• Levis Gateways (Samuel, Hannah, Sarah) (MCA II:221-223 NEED): badged in February 2020. The trails can be seen HERE. (see Need)
• Nelson Gateways (John and Margaret): badged in 2015 and 2016 and need re-review. See the trails HERE.
• Robert Peyton, through his mother: trails were badged in 2015 and can be seen HERE.

Isabel also appears in trails that need further work (unbadged) to the following Gateways:

• Anne Mauleverer (MCA III:131-135 MAULEVERER): trail has not yet been developed. See the trail HERE.
• Need Gateways (Mary and Joseph) (MCA II:221-223 NEED): Levis trail badged in February 2020. The trails can be seen HERE (see Levis). 3 profiles need development.
• Nelson Gateways (Philip and Thomas) (MCA IV:95-101 STAPLETON): trails need development. See them HERE.

See Base Camp for more information about identified Magna Carta trails and their status. See the project's glossary for project-specific terms, such as a "badged trail".