The De Lacy Family
It was a de Lacy heiress, Aubrey de Lisoures, who brought great wealth to the Barons of Halton and elevated the importance of the Barony to the highest level of society. Once again, the family had been loyal supporters of the William the Conqueror. The de Lacy family was from Lassi, Calvados. It is thought that the brothers Walter and Ilbert, probably the sons of Hugh, (1020-1049) fought with William the Conqueror at the Battle of Hastings. In 1070 Ilbert (1036-1093) was given land by William I in Pontefract (Wakefield, Yorkshire) and was created the 1st Baron of Pontefract. His brother Walter (1042-1985) was created Lord of Weobley in Herefordshire, the Lordship in Ludlow, Shropshire and lands in other counties. He was another Marcher Lord, though not as important as the Earls of Chester and Shrewesbury. Several generations later Hugh de Lacy fought for Henry II in the Norman Invasion of Ireland, for which he was richly rewarded. The family was politically astute and no matter whether they displeased the King they always seemed to regain their property not long thereafter. Walter (1038-1085) and Ilbert (1045-1093) jointly owned land in Normandy plus their holdings in England and were contemporaries of Roger of Poitou, (1058-1123) and Nigel de Cotentin. (1043-1092)
The two lines of the de Lacy family were descended from these brothers: Ilbert in England and Walter in England and Ireland
LINE 1
Generation 1 Ilbert de Lacy, 1st Baron of Pontefract born between 1036 and 1045 in Normandy, died 1093 in Pontefract
In 1070 Ilbert was granted land in West Yorkshire by William I as a reward for his support during the Conquest. He built a wooden, motte and bailey castle at Pontefract near Wakefield eventually replaced with a stone castle. The de Lacy’s lived in the castle until the early 1300’s during which they built the magnificent multilobate donjon or keep. The castle became part of the holdings of the House of Lancaster on the marriage to Alice de Lacy and reverted to the Crown after Alice’s husband Thomas of Lancaster was beheaded in 1322. It later became the home of John of Gaunt, who spent vast amounts on its improvement. The castle has been a ruin since the Civil War when it was a Royalist stronghold and was besieged at least three times. At the conclusion of the Civil War the local population helped to tear it down, to stop any further fighting. It was a magnet for trouble in their view.
Ilbert married Hawise b. 1042, 1st Countess of Lincoln suo jure (in her own right) and had a son, Robert who died in the reign of William II (Rufus).
Generation 2 Robert de Lacy, 2nd Baron of Pontefract born before 1074, died 1129
Ilbert’s son Robert founded the monastery of St. John at Pontefract in West Yorkshire during the reign of William I. It is also likely that he built Clitheroe Castle, a motte and bailey design, in 1186 from which to administer his local estates. The keep at Clitheroe has the distinction of being one of the smallest in the country. There is still a family connection in Whalley as one of the pubs is named the De Lacy Arms. The coat of arms of both the town of Clitheroe and the de Lacy family contain a purple lion, pointing to an ancient connection.
Roger of Poitou was the 1st Lord of Bowland and gave the control of the lands to his neighbor Robert, who became 2nd Lord of Bowland. Robert and his son, Ilbert II were banished from their English lands in 1114 probably because of his real or suspected involvement in the rebellion of Robert de Belleme, 3rd Earl of Shrewesbury.
Robert married Matilda, b. 1178, in about 1195. Generation 3 Their children were:
Ilbert II 3rd Lord of Bowland
Henry 3rd Baron of Pontefract, Lord of Blackburnshire, 4th Lord of Bowland born before 1070 at Halton, died 1123,
Aubrey (Albreda), Lady of Bowland, born about 1100, married Robert de Lisours in 1113 and had a daughter, Aubrey
Robert
Ilbert II, Henry and Robert died without heirs so Aubrey inherited all her father’s estates and some titles. Henry’s legacy was Kirkstall Abbey, Leeds, a ‘daughter’ house of Fountains Abbey, finally established after his death in the 1152.
Generation 4 Aubrey/Albreda de Lisours, born about 1120 died after 1195, daughter of Aubrey/Albreda and Robert de Lisours
Aubrey (Albreda) married Richard FitzEustace 5th Baron of Halton (held 1157-1171). She was his second wife and had a son John FitzRichard de Lacy, 6th Baron of Halton.
Here the Barons of Halton and the de Lacy families were united through marriage.
LINE 2
Generation 1 Walter de Lacey, Lord of Weobley born before 1040 d. 1085
He was a Marcher Lord with lands in Herefordshire and Shropshire from which he defended the Welsh border. Walter died falling off the scaffolding during an inspection at St. Guthlac’s Priory, of which he was a benefactor. He was also a benefactor of Gloucester Abbey, where he is buried.
About 1066 Walter married Emma, sometimes called Emmelina, born 1048
Generation 3 The children of Walter and Emma were :
Roger, heir to Weobley
Hugh
Walter became Abbot of Gloucester
Daughter became a nun at St. Mary’s Abbey, Winchester?
Agnes b. 1076
Emma b. 1078
Generation 2 Emma de Lacy Emma, born 1078, married someone whose name is unknown in about 1095 and had a son Gilbert who took the de Lacy name.
Generation 3 Gilbert de Lacy, Lord of Weobley and Ludlow, born about 1110, died 1163 He became a Knight Templar in the 1150’s. He was a witness for a charter between the English and French Kings in 1160 and was in the Holy Land later that year. He was granted Templar lands in Guiting, Gloucestershire.
Gilbert married Agnes, born 1118 ,about 1132 and had a son Hugh. He was granted Meath in Ireland and recovered his lands from Henry II
Generation 4 Sir Hugh de Lacy, Lord of Ludlow, Lord of Meath, Ireland , born before 1135, died 1186 Hugh, like his father, was granted Templar lands, but his were in Ludlow. He fought for Henry II in the Norman Invasion of Ireland in 1172. For these efforts Henry II granted him the entire county of Meath in 1172/3. In 1177 he became the Governor of Ireland and so wielded enormous power. Hugh was killed when he was aged about 50 during his supervision of the construction of Durrow Castle in the Province of Leinster, in the Midlands of Ireland.
Hugh married first, Rohese de Monmouth about 1163, and had 9 children, then Rose O’Connor sometime after 1180.
Generation 5 The children of Hugh and Rohese were:
Walter (1166-1241) m. Margaret/Margery de Braose
Hugh (before 1179-1242), 1st Earl of Ulster
Gilbert
Son who died young, possibly Robert
Aigida m. Richard de Burgh
Elayne m. Richard de Beaufo
Daughter m. Sir William FitzAlan
Daughter m. Geoffrey de Marisco, Judiciar of Ireland
Daughter
Hugh’s second marriage to Princess Rose (O’Connor), the daughter of Roderic, King of Connaught, took place without the King’s permission so he was recalled to England. in disgrace. However he was back in Ireland the following year, obviously having made his peace with the King.
Generation 5 Children of Hugh and Rose were:
William (declared illegitimate by Henry II)
Ysota (daughter)
Generation 5 Hugh’s eldest son, Sir Walter de Lacy, Lord of Meath, Longtown Ludlow and Weobley, born 1166 in Herefordshire died 1241
Walter married Margaret/Margery de Braose, the daughter of another Marcher Lord. Walter lost possession of his Irish lands in 1210, but regained them in 1213, apparently in favor with King John at that time. He was the Sheriff of Herefordshire from 1218-1222
Generation 6 The children of Walter and Margaret/Margery:
Gilbert d. before 1230
Petronilla m Sir Ralph de Toeni
Egidia m. Richard Mor de Burgh
Egidia and Richard de Burgh had many royal descendants, including Catherine Parr, Edward IV, Richard III, Anne Boleyn, Henry VIII and Elizabeth II the current monarch.
Generation 5 (2) Hugh de Lacy’s second son, Hugh de Lacy II, 1st Earl of Ulster, In 1205 King John created Hugh II the Earl of Ulster, making him the most powerful lord in Ireland.
Generation 6 Hugh de Lacy’s grandson, Gilbert de Lacy born about 1190 in Hertfordshire, died 1230
Gilbert married Isabel Bigod about 1225, the daughter of Sir Hugh Bigod, Earl of Norfolk, a member of the Magna Carta Surety, as was his cousin John de Lacy, 8th Baron of Halton.
Generation 7 Children of Gilbert and Isabel were:
Walter de Lacy (d. between 1238 and 1241) m. Rohese do Boteler. No children
Margery (Margaret) m. Sir John de Verdun, son of Theobald Walter and Rohese de Verdun
Maud m. Sir Geoffrey de Geneville, Judiciar of Ireland
Hugh de Lacy’s estate was divided between his granddaughters, Margery and Maud, due to the prior deaths of his son Hugh II and grandson Gilbert.There were no further male heirs in this line.
Margaret Sottile 