General Notes

From "Treago and Mynors Family", 2nd edtion 1998, by H. Mynors, private publication:

It seems likely that Roger's tenure was not very long, for he does not occur again: and he was succeeded at Westbury on Severn by his son WILLIAM DE MINERS. This was the William de Miners named as tenant of Burghill, rated at 8 hides, in the Balliol College copy of the Herefordshire Domesday, which has been dated c. 1160-70, and in the Testa de Nevill. The descent of Westbury on Severn taken here from Placita Quo Warranto is identical with that of Burghill in Testa de Nevill. This is the earliest reference discovered to the name at Burghill, but affords no clue to how long the tenure had persisted. Burghill was held as of the honour of Brecknock, under the successors of Miles of Gloucester: and, if hidage is a fair measure, appears to have been more substantial than either Foxcote or Eycot.

William witnessed a confirmation by Roger of Hereford (d. 1155), eldest son of Miles of Gloucester, of a gift made to Brecon Priory when Gilbert Foliot was Bishop of Hereford (1148 -54) (Arch. Camb. 4th series, 14). He also witnessed two charters of Maihel of Hereford, Roger's younger brother and successor. The first was a gift to Brecon Priory, another witness being Roger dapifer of Burghill: the second a grant to St. Davids of lands which Miles of Gloucester had held in fee of St. Davids (Mon Angi III, CPR 1352/53.
There are several references to William in the Pipe Rolls for Gloucestershire. Mentioned in 1161-62, in 1169-70 he had £10 to fortify the castle of Striguil  (Chepstow). In 1175-76 he had the custody of Hatherly, with the daughter of Roger de Troilli. In the same year his men Simon and Walter owed Ω mark on his behalf for a forest fine in Herefordshire which remained unpaid in the six following years. William made a substantial grant of land to the Cistercian abbey of Flaxley in the Forest of Dean, founded in 1151, the witnesses including his son Henry. Roger of Westbury and Baderon of Blaisdon, but the grant is not dated (Flaxley Cartulary).

William de Miners died probably about 1200, On evidence as late as 1364. it was in John's reign that he presented Walter Map to the living of Westbury (Reg. Of Bishop Ludovic de Charlton). Nevertheless in the Forest Pleas for Gloucestershire on the Pipe Roll for Michaelmas 1190 it was his son Henry who paid Ω mark for a purpresture (illegal enclosure or encroachment) perhaps at Westbury. In 1201 Henry owed 5 marks for enclosing in order to make a park next his house in Westbury (Oblate Roll). These references suggest that Henry was seised at least of Westbury before 1200. They also recall the enclosure at Burghill known as Minors Park (OS 1" map 152,480457),