General Notes

[janet skelton.FTW]

Heiress of Llandovery and her father's other lands
[John Giffard] was affianced, at the age of 4 years, to Aubrey deCaumville (who was about the same age), but he did not marry her. Hemarried, 1stly, Maud, widow of Sir William Lungespee, of Amesbury,Aldbourne, and Trowbridge, Wilts, Canford, Dorset, Bicester, Oxon,Brattleby, County, Lincoln, &c (who died between 23 December 1256 and 3January 1256/7, and daughter and heir of Sir Walter de Clifford, ofClifford County, Hereford, Cortham, Salop, &c., by Margaret, daughter ofLlewelyn ab Iorwerth, Prince of North Wales.
She, who was living 1 December 1281, died s.p.m., not long afterwards. Hemarried, 2ndly, in 1286, Margaret, widow of Sir John de Neville, ofHallingbury, Wethersfield, Great Totham, Great Wakering and Langham,Essex, Alphington, Devon, &c. who died shortly before 20 May 1282. Hedied at Boyton, Wilts, 29 May, and was buried 11 June 1299 in MalmesburyAbbey. His widow's dower was ordered to be assigned, 1 August 1299, andon 5 August she was assigned the manors of Stonehouse, Stoke Gifford,Elston, and Broughton Gifford. She died shortly before 13 December 1338.[CP 5:792-7]
Maud Lungespee notified the King that John Giffard had abducted her fromher manor of Canford, Dorset, and taken her against her will to hiscastle of Brimpsfield, and there detained her. John appeared before theKing, and professed himself ready to prove that he did not abduct heragainst her will, and offered a fine of 300 marks for the marriagealready contracted, as it was said, between them, provided she made nofurther complaint against him. On 10 March 1270/1 the King ordained thatif she were not content, the said fine should be void, and John shouldstand his trial at a month from Easter. And as she was too unwell toappear before the King, commissioners were sent to inquire into the truthof the matter, and to certify the King thereof.
John and Maud, and her 1st husband, William Lungespee, were all descendedfrom Richard fitz Ponce. Why John Giffard should have referred to himselfas being of the race of Le Lungespee as in the proof of age mentionedabove he is said to have done--is not explicable; unless, indeed, thesobriquet was derived from the family of Clifford.