General Notes

Ralph Lord de Cameys: Baron by writ also by tenure of Flockthorpe Manor, as probably also by tenure of Torpel Manor, Northants, which as will be seen he acquired by marriage.Prior to 1253, probably on his marriage, his father granted him North Denchworth Manor, Berks. Heir to his father and aged 40 year on the latter's death. On 20th June 1259, as "Ralph, son of Ralph de Kameys", he did homage to the King as a Baron, and on giving sufficient security for payment of the usual relief for all lands and tenements which the said Ralph had held in Norfolk "ut de feodo" (i.e. Flockthorpe Manor held as a Barony), received livery of his late father's lands. By his marriage he acquired six Knight's fees in Northants, comprising Torpel Manor, (20-held in chief "per baroniam," with lands in Upton (20) with the advowson of Ufford Church (20), in Lolham adjoining Ufford, and in Helpeston, also Pilketon (Pilton) Manor and advowson (21), Glapthorne and Cotterstoke Manors (21) with the advowson of Piriho Priory (21), and probably further lands in Tansour for which he paid annually 20s to Sir John Giffard and to the Prior of Piriho apiece. He also acquired by marriage, Hengeston (Hinxton) (22) half a Knight's fee held in chief "per baroniam": certain lands in Pampesworth (22a) also held in chief; lands in Brune, and Orwell Manor (23), one Knight's fee held of the Earl of Winchester - all in Cambridgeshire: also lands in Keston, Hunts, and certain lands in Lincolnshire. In Torpel Manor were 5 virgates of arable land in demesne, each vergate containing 20 acres, 40 acres in meadow, with a wood and water mill, and in villenage 3.5 vergates; in Pilton there were in demesne 5 virgates, each virgate containing 24 acres, an assortment of 24 acres, 6 virgates in villenage, a free fishery, with cottager's rents of 14s 4d yearly value, and 3s yearly rents of free tenants. Held a quarter of a Knight's fee in chief in Hardingham, adjoining Flockthorpe, and also lands in Mouton, Norfolk, where Hy. Freman and his parcenors held from him one third part of a Knight's fee of the Honor of Huntingdon (of the portion of Henry de Hastings) which is stated in Lipscomb's History of Buckinghamshire to have been his father's in 1233. In Hants he held lands in Elynges and Lasham with the advowson of the latter church, all which he probably inherited from his father with Hambledon. He appears to have possess lands in that county by John, son of Hubert de Burgh. He also appears to have had lands in Nassington (24), Northants, since it is stated in the Hundred Rolls that in 1275 a jury found that "Ralph de Kemeys" had 11 years previous "enclosed a certain wood in Nassington called Muchhawe".In 1253, "Ralph de Cameys junior" was granted by the King free warren in all the lands he then held in the counties of Northants, Lincoln, Cambridge, and Berks, and also the right of holding Markets and fairs in Orwell Manor; it is therefore not improbable that he resided at Orwell during his father's lifetime. Sold his Manor of Denchesworth to Adam Fettiplace, who in 1245 was Mayor of Oxford: a copy of his grant of these lands is to be seen in the Bodleian Library, Oxford (Ashmoleian M.S.S., and see Appendix); appears to have sold his lands in Lincolnshire at an early date; sold 4.25 virgates "in bondis" and a further 15 acres of land in Keston to Jomes Lovel. In 1255, he and his wife sold their lands in Brunne to Gilbert Peche, and in 1257 they levied a fine with Simon de Leudon upon a mill and 11 acres of meadow in Lolham to their own use, they giving to Simon their suit and service every three weeks, which was their due for their tenement in Helpeston. Assessed to pay 2 marks towards the Aid for marrying the King's sister to the Roman Emperor on Flockthorpe Manor, held in chief by serjeanty as one Knight's fee; also similarly assessed for one fee in Essex (i.e. in Toppesfield), held of the Honor of Mandeville. Stated in the Hundred Rolls to have had in 1276 rights of gallows, of assay of bread and ale, and view of frank pledge in Stukeley Magna Manor, in which Manor moreover he did not permit the King's bailiffs to execute their writs. It is also related in these Rolls that he had rights of assay of bread and ale and view of frank pledge in Ditton Cameys (Wood Ditton) wherein also he had given up the customary payment of 2s a year to the Sheriffs Court; also rights of gallows and of assay of bread and ale in Burwell Manor and in Henxton; rights of assay of bread and ale in his lands in Pampesworth, but subject to the correction of the Crown officers, which limitation he had evaded for some ten years previous; similarly it is stated that in Essex, he had for 12 years prior to 1274 evaded the service due by him in Toppesfield twice a year at the Sheriff's Court. In 1254 Ralph de Cameys was at Bordeaux with the King, where he witnessed a Royal grant of free warren to Maurice de Birmingham. About this time he was fined for holding a tournament in Cambridge contrary to the command of the King, who had in 1245 forbidden any to be holden there or within five miles of that town. 1259 witnessed a charter of Sir Richard de St. Denys granting lands in Essex. 1264 obtained a charter to have a weekly market on Thursdays in Torpel Manor and also a yearly fair on the eve, festival and morrow of St. Giles' feast. Presented his cousin Nicholas de Cameys (see Cameys of Great Stukeley) to the Church of St. Mary's, Pilton. 1268 presented to the Church of Torpel (i.e. Ufford Church) and the same year to that of Tansor. In 1272, he was sued by Warinton de Barinton for pasturing in Barton, which adjoined Orwell. 1275 summoned by the King's Exchequer to pay a debt which he owed to on Haginus, a Jew of London, since the King had assigned the said debt to Odinus le Gask, a citizen of Genoa, in payment of a Crown debt due to the latter. In 1260 summoned to an assembly near Shrewsbury at the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin, with horse and arms to give the service due to the King in an expedition against Llewelyn, Prince of Wales. Mentioned as one of the leading Barons confederate with Simon de Montfort, Earl of Leicester, in rebellion against Henry III, and in 1265 was declared a rebel by the King; after the Baron's victory at Lewes he was summoned by the Earl of Leicester to London on 14th December 1264 as one of the council of State by whom the realm was governed. In 1267 he received the King's pardon.At a general proffer of Knight's service taken in 1276 for the King at Tweedmouth, Ralph de Cameys offered the service of one Knight for his lands in Norfolk, to be made by Richard de Macy and John Tylnercy with two equipped horses. In a Roll of Arms of the reign of Henry III and Edward I is given "d'Camais-or, on a chief gules three plates". Died prior to 12th March 1277 in which year by inquisiton post mortem, he was found to have died seised of Hardington Manor (i.e. Flockthorpe), Norfolk, wherein he was found by juries to have possessed a messuage (i.e. in demesne) of 280 acres of arable land, 24 acres of meadow, 24 acres of alder and 50 acres of wood: Torpell Manor, with lands in Upton, Cotterstoke, Glapthorne, Pilketon and Tannesour, Northants: Stiveclay Manor, Hunts: Hengeston Manor, Orwell Manor and advowson, Woodacton (Wood Ditton) and Borewell Manors, Cambridge: and Wodington (Wotton) Manor, held of the Honor of Gloucester, Surrey. Married Ascelina, daughter and heiress of Roger de Torpel of Torpel, Northants, by his wife Mabel; the latter had Cotterstoke in dower, to the church of which she presented in 1258.