Richard Fitz Gilbert, 1st Lord of Clare

Notes:

Wikipedia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_fitz_Gilbert

He was a Norman lord who participated in the Norman conquest of England in 1066. He was the son of Gilbert, Count of Brionne in Normandy. Gilbert was a guardian of the young duke William and when he was killed by Ralph de Wacy in 1040, his two older sons Richard and Gilbert fled to Flanders.

On his later return to Normandy Richard was rewarded with the lordship of Bienfaite and Orbec in Normandy. In 1066, Richard came into England with his kinsman William the Conqueror, and received from him great advancement in honour and possessions. Richard Fitz Gilbert is the earliest identifiable ancestor of the family, and is once referred to as Richard of Clare in the Domesday Book for Suffolk.

He was rewarded with 176 lordships and large grants of land in England, including the right to build the castles of Clare and of Tonbridge. Richard Fitz Gilbert received the lordship of Clare, in Suffolk, where parts of the wall of Clare Castle still stand. He was thus Lord of Clare. He served as Joint Chief Justiciar in William's absence, and played a major part in suppressing the revolt of 1075.

On the Conqueror's death, Richard and other great Norman barons, including Odo of Bayeux, Robert, Count of Mortain, William Fitz Osbern and Geoffrey of Coutances, led a rebellion against the rule of King William Rufus in order to place Robert Curthose on the throne. However, most Normans in England remained loyal. William Rufus and his army successfully attacked the rebel strongholds at Tonbridge, Pevensey and Rochester.

Richard married Rohese Giffard, daughter of Walter Giffard, Lord of Longueville and Agnes Flaitel, and they had the following children:

1. Roger Fitz Richard de Clare, received Norman lands and d. 1131, apparently without children.

2. Gilbert fitz Richard, d. 1115, succeeded his father as Earl of Clare.

3. Walter de Clare, Lord of Nether Gwent, d. 1138.

4. Isabel de Clare, d. 1088, m. Humphrey d'Isle.

5. Richard Fitz Richard de Clare, Abbot of Ely.

6. Robert Fitz Richard, Lord of Little Dunmow, Baron of Baynard, d. 1136.

7. Alice (or Adeliza) de Clare, d. 1138. m. Walter Tirel.

8. Rohese de Clare, d. 1121, m. (ca. 1088), Eudo Dapifer.

He was buried in St. Neot's Priory in 1091. His widow was still living in 1113. His lands were inherited by his son, Gilbert Fitz Richard.

Buried:
Grave location, biography, photo of church and coat of arms:
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=89091104

Richard married Rohese de Giffard. Rohese (daughter of Walter de Giffard, 3rd Count of Longueville and Ermentrude Flaitel) was born ca 1034, Longueville, Île-de-France, France; died 1118, St. Neots, Cambridgeshire, England; was buried , St. Neots Priory, St Neots, Cambridgeshire, England. [Group Sheet]

1. Gilbert Fitz Richard de Clare, 2nd Lord of Clare was born 1066, Clare, Suffolk, England; died 1117; was buried , Tonbridge Priory, Tonbridge, Kent, England.