Rafe (Pembrugge) Pembridge (abt. 1166 - 1219)

Per Michael Siddons 'The Development of Welsh Heraldry”, Volume I - The Pembridge [Pembrugge] family was established in Hereford by 1094 when a Ralph de Pembridge witnessed a grant made by Philip de Braose at Radnor soon after the death of the William I de Braose c1094. Ralph de Pembridge was also the builder of Pembridge Castle c1136 that is located just north of Welsh Newton in Herefordshire. There was also a second Pembridge castle from which the town of Pembridge took its name. By 1203 Ralph’s descendant, Henry Pembridge held five knights fees in Herefordshire. Henry was deceased by 1211 when Ralph II, his son, was fined 100 marks and a good horse by King John to enjoy his father’s lands.

With the valued assistance of Matthew Connolly, the line of descent is now confirmed from Henry II de Pembrugg [born >1200] and his second wife Elizabeth Gamages, eldest daughter and coheir of Godfrey de Gamages, who held the manor of Meone in Gloucestershire three years before his death in c1253, which in turn was held by Henry de Pembrugg in 1253 and John de Pembrugg in 1284/5.

PEMBRUGG HENRY Grandson of Ralph I Pembrugg

[Pipe Rolls 23HII, page 45] 1177. Gloecestr’scr. - Nova placita et nove conventiones per Bertram de Verdun et Willelmum filium Stephani et Turstinum filium Simonis. Et de .j. m. de Henrico de Penebrige de misericordia.

Court of New Pleas and New Convenants. Henry de Pembrugg fined 1 mark for a misdeed.

[Pipe Rolls 24HII, page 59] 1178. Gloucestershire - Nova placita et nove conventiones per Radulfum filium Stephani et socios suos. Et de dim. marc de Witestan' Henrici de Penebrig'.

New pleas etc. before Radulf fitzStephen and his fellows. Henry de Pembrugg of Winson [in Bibury] fined ½ mark. [Note – Winson was held Ralph II Pembrugg and Henry II Pembrugg.]

PEMBRUGG RALPH II Son of Henry I Pembrugg

[Rotuli Oblatis and Finibus, page 470] 1 July 1213. Gloucester. Radulphus de Penebrug dat unum palfrey per habendo quodam pone coram dominus Reg. ap Westminster a die St. Peter ad Vincula in xv dies de feodo unius milita quad clam versus Albreda Marmion.

Ralph de Pembrugg gives a palfrey for having a hearing at the King’s court at Westminster in 15 days of 1 August of 4 knights’ fees versus Albreda Marmion.

[Rotuli Litterarum Clausarum, page 271] 1 May 1216 Folkestan. Writ to the sheriff of Hereford. Scias quod concessimus ------------ et fedeli nostro Williamus de Cantelup custodiam terra et heredum Radulfum de Penebrig cum patris suis. ------------------.

William de Cantilupe granted the lands and custody of the heir of Ralph de Pembrugg. Writ to the sheriff of Hereford to take his fidelity and homage.

[Rotuli Litterarum Clausarum, page 271] 18 August 1216. Writ to the sheriff of Gloucestershire. Precipimus tibi quod sine dilone plenarum saisina habere faciatis dilecto et fideli nostro Willelmus de Cantilupo de terra que fuit Radulfus de Penebrugg in Wineston ---------------------.

Order to deliver lands that were held by Ralph de Pembrugg to our beloved and faithful William de Cantilupe in Winson [in Bibury].

[Rotuli Litterarum Clausarum, page 370b] 16 August 1218 Westminster. Per William de Cantilupe and lands in Pembrugg. Writ to Reginald de Braose. Mandamus vobis quod sine dilatione plenarum saisinam habere faciatis Willelmus de Cantilupo de terra qui fuit Radulfus de Penebrugg in Penebrugg cum ptin* qui est de feodo nostro cujus custodia pertinabat ad dominus John Rege prem* nostrum tempe suo ratione tenementi quod idem Radulfus de tenuit in capite et cujus terre et heredis custodian idem Rex pater noster eidem Willelmus dedit cum maritagio ejusdem heredis ut dicit.

Order to given seisin of the lands late of Ralph de Pembrugg in Pembrugg to William de Cantilupe to whom King John had granted the custody of the heir, his marriage and lands.

[Rotuli Litterarum Clausarem, page 479b] 1 November 1221 Westminster. Writ to the sheriff of Hereford. Scias quod adjudicata est nobis custodia terra et heredis de Radulfus de Penebrugg in curia noster apud Westminster quom quide custodia dominus John Rex pater noster concessit Willelmus de Cantilupo senescello nostro et similr* eam ei concessimus. Ei ido tibi precipimus quod eidem Willelmus terra qui fuit predicium Radulfus in Penebrugg sine dilatione plenarum saisinam habere facias cum omibus pertain suis bailiff tua.

A * at the end of a word indicates that the missing letter/letters have yet to be deciphered. Until such time the missing letter/letters can be deciphered, translations should only be considered as a rough translation. The following words I am having trouble with and trying to find by comparing to Latin transcripts in the Close Rolls 1227-1272: - Ptin* - a straight line through the letter p stands for “per, par, or por”, and a curved line over the letter n, indicates more than one letter missing. Prem* - a curved line over the letter r, indicating more than one letter missing. Similr* - a straight line through the letter l indicates one or more letters missing.

CALENDAR ROLLS AND OTHER DOCUMENTATION FROM THE REIGNS OF JOHN UNTIL HENRY VII. As preserved and published by Public Record Office under the superintence of the Deputy Keepers of the Records. ROTULI LITTERARUM CLAUSAREM [Also referred to as the Close Rolls] 1204-1224 Edited by Thomas Duffy Hardy, published 1833. [Latin Script. Refer to pages xix-xxii for explanation of abbreviations] As available State Library of Victoria, Bailleau Library, University of Melbourne. Online at https://archive.org/details/dli.granth.74628