General Notes

Roger Damory, Lord Damory, d. 13 or 14 Mar 1321/2, of Bletchington, co. Oxford, MP 1317-1321.  [Magna Charta Sureties]

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BARONY OF DAMORY (I)

SIR ROGER DAMORY, of Bletchingdon, Oxon, younger brother of Sir Richard DAMORY [LORD DAMORY], and younger son of Sir Robert DAMORY, of Bucknell in that co. He was an associate of Edward II, who gave him, 11 February 13 I 6/7, the manor of Holton, Oxon. Having married the King's niece, he was granted, 3 May and 6 July 1317, on this account and for his good services at the battle of Bannockburn, the manors of Sandal, co. York, and Vauxhall, Surrey to him and his wife, Elizabeth, and his heirs. Keeper of the Castle and Honour of Knaresborough, 24 December 1314 to 18 October 13 17, and 4 Mar 13 17/8 to 27 May 1318; of Corfe Castle and the Forest of Purbeck 20 February 1317/8 to 8 May 1321; of St. Briavel's Castle and the Forest of Dean, 4 June 1318 to 11 April 1321. He was summoned for Military Service from 20 May 1317 to 22 May 1319, and to Parliament from 20 November 1317 to 15 May 1321, by writs directed Rogero Damory or Dammory, whereby he is held to have become LORD DAMORY. His lands were taken into the King's hand, 18 October, but restored 2 December 1317. He took an active part in "pursuing" the Despeiisers, for which he received a pardon, 20 August 1321 in accordance with the agreement made in Parliament. Was one of the principal contrariants, and was engaged in the capture of Gloucester, the burning of Bridgnorth, the seige of Tickhill, and the conflict at Burton-on-Trent. His lands were taken into the King's hand, and various orders for his arrest issued, 7 December 1321 to 11 March 1321/2. On the retreat before the King's forces, being sick. or mortally wounded he was left behind at Tutbury, where he was captured, 11 March, tried and condemned to death but respited, 13 March 1321/2. He married, about April (before 3 May) 1317, Elizabeth 3rd sister of the whole blood and coheir of Gilbert EARL OF GLOUCESTER AND HERTFORD, daughter of Gilbert (DE CLARE), EARL OF GLOUCESTER AND HERTFORD, by his 2nd wife, Joan OF ACRE, daughter of KING EDWAID I. She had married, 1stly, 30 September 1308, at Waltham Abbey, in the King's presence, John DE BURGH (son and heir apparent of Richard, EARL OF ULSTER), who died v.p., 18 June 1313, at Galway; and, 2ndly, as 2nd wife, 4 February 1315/6, near Bristol, against the King's will and without his licence, Sir Theo bald DE VERDUN, of Alton, co. Stafford [LORD VERDUN], who died at Alton Castle, 27 July, and was buried 19 September 1316, in Croxden Abbey. She, who had livery of her dower, 6 December 1316, had, with her 3rd husband, livery of the knights' fees and advowsons of her said dower, 26 June, of her dower [IRL], 26 September, and, the King having taken his fealty 22 May, of her inheritance, 15 November 1317. He died 13 or 14 March 1321/2, at Tutbury Castle, and was buried in St. Mary's, Ware. On 16 March his widow was imprisoned in the Abbey of Barking, and there, under duress and fear of death for herself and her son, was forced to grant her lordships in Wales to the younger Despenser and his wife. She had livery of her inheritance in England and Ireland, 2 November 1322. At Christmas following, at the instigation of the younger Despenser, she was placed under arrest at York, till she signed a bond by which she undertook not to marry nor to dispose of any of her lands without the King's licence, on pain of forfeiting all she possessed . Her lands were taken into the King's hand, 7 January 1322/3, as she had left the King without his licence. They were restored to her, 17 February 1326/7, and the King took her homage therefor, 20 December 1327. She endowed University Hall, Cambridge, 8 April 1336, becoming Founder thereof, 6 April 1338. Founder (lic. 1 February 1346/7) of a House of Friars: Minors at Walsingha, Norfolk. She, who was aged 19 or 20 at her brother's death in 1314, died 4 November 1360, and was buried, with her 3rd husband, in St. Mary's, Ware. [Complete Peerage IV:42-45, (transcribed by Dave Utzinger)]