Robert (Ewyas) de Ewyas (abt. 1081 - aft. 1147)

Born about 1081 in Sudeley, Gloucestershire, England

Ancestors

Descendants

Died after 1147 after about age 66 in England

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Biography

Birth and Parents

Robert, Lord of Ewyas Harold, was the son of Harold de Ewyas, ^[1]

He was born, say, 1081

His father Harold FitzRalph had five known sons. If he married, say, 1080, estimate the births of these sons at two year intervals beginning in 1080, with birth order ordered according to an undated charter of "Haraldus de Ewyas" confirmed by "Rogerto herede meo" and witnessed by "Rogerus, Johannes, Alexander et Willelmus" in which Harald donated "ecclesiam Sancti Michaelis de Ewyas" to Gloucester St. Peter, ^[2]

Marriage

Robert married Sibilla. ^{[3] [4]}

1147 Dore Abbey

Robert de Ewyas, also known as Robert Fitz Harold, the Lord of Ewyas Harold, founded Dore Abbey in Golden Valley, Herefordshire in 1147. The abbey was formed as a daughter house of the Cistercian abbey at Morimond, perhaps after Lord Robert met the Abbot of Morimond on the Second Crusade.

It is believed the Lord Robert was buried in the Abbey as what is thought to be his effigy can be seen today, along with that of his half brother, Robert de Clifford, died 1286. It was reported that Lord Robert's effigy is in mutilated condition and is under the arch on the south side of the Abbey presbytery.

Bannister states that Robert [I] de Ewias founded in 1147 the Cistercian abbey at Dore in which he was buried. ^[5].

Charters

"Robertus filius Haraldi de Ewyas" confirmed the donations of "ecclesiam Sancti Michaelis de Ewyas…decimam de domino castelli de Ewyas…" to Gloucester St Peter made by his father, for the souls of himself and "uxoris meæ Sibillæ", by undated charter. ^[6].

The Historia sancti Petri Gloucestriæ records the confirmation by "Robertus" of the donation of "ecclesiam de Burneham prioratui de Ewyas" made by "patris sui Haraldi" and his own donation of "decimas omnium maneriorum suorum"^[7].

"Haraldus de Ewyas" donated "ecclesiam Sancti Michaelis de Ewyas…decimam de domino castelli de Ewyas…" to Gloucester St Peter, confirmed by "Roberto herede meo", by undated charter, witnessed by "Rogerus, Johannes, Alexander et Willelmus filii mei…"^[8].

A manuscript which lists donations to Gloucester St Peter includes a record of the donation in 1100 by “Haraldus dominus de Ewyas” and the later confirmation by “Robertus” of "donum Haraldi patris sui" ^[9].

The Gesta Stephani Regis records that "Robertus…filius Heraldi, vir stemmatis ingenuissimi" was sent by the king to subdue the Welsh, dated to [1136/37]^[10].

"Robertus filius Haraldi de Ewyas" confirmed the donations of "ecclesiam Sancti Michaelis de Ewyas…decimam de domino castelli de Ewyas…" to Gloucester St Peter made by his father, for the souls of himself and "uxoris meæ Sibillæ", by undated charter. ^[11].

Death

Robert de Ewias died after 1147. ^[12][1]

Issue

Robert & his wife had children: ^[13]

1. Robert III de Ewias, died 1198. Married Petronilla. ^[13][1]

Research Notes

Was Robert's Mother Maud d'Avranches?

Boyer shows a Maud d'Avranches to be the wife of Harodl de Ewyas and mother of Robert. Regrettably, no evidence has been found that such a Maud ever existed. She has been disconnected and categorized as Disproven Existence. ^[14]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2} Carl Boyer, III. Medieval English Ancestors of Certain Americans. By the author: Santa Clarita, California, 2003. Robert de Ewyas I is #5on page 81.
2. ↑ Gloucester St Peter, Vol. I, CCXXXVIII, p. 285. Cited by Cawley, Ewias.
3. ↑ Keats-Rohan, Domesday Descendants, p. 453.
4. ↑ Historia et cartularium Monasterii Sancti Petri Gloucestriae, Vol. 1, CCXXXVIII, De Ewyas, p.287.
5. ↑ Bannister (1902), p. 23. Cited by Cawley, Ewias.
6. ↑ Gloucester St Peter, Vol. I, CCXXXIX, p. 287. Cited by Cawley, Ewias.
7. ↑ Gloucester St Peter, Vol, I, Historia monasterii sancti Petri Gloucestriæ, pp. 67 and 76-7. Cited by Cawley, Ewias.
8. ↑ Gloucester St Peter, Vol. I, CCXXXVIII, p. 285. Cited by Cawley, Ewias.
9. ↑ . Dugdale Monasticon I, Gloucester Monastery, XIII, p. 546. Cited by Cawley, Ewias.
10. ↑ Gesta Stephani Regis, I, p. 13. Cited by Cawley, Ewias.
11. ↑ Gloucester St Peter, Vol. I, CCXXXIX, p. 287. Cited by Cawley, Ewias.
12. ↑ Domesday Descendants, p. 453. Cited by Cawley, Ewias.
13. ↑ ^{13.0 13.1} Charles Cawley. Medieval Lands: A Prosopography of Medieval European Noble and Royal Families. Hosted online by the Foundation for Medieval Genealogy (FMG), accessed 2022,Ewias.
14. ↑ Carl Boyer, III. Medieval English Ancestors of Certain Americans. By the author: Santa Clarita, California, 2003. Harold de Ewyas is #3 on page 80.