The Delahorne/Curtis Family History

Berkeley · ◉ direct ancestor

Nobility

♂James Berkeley

Died 1405.

James Berkeley (died 13 June 1405) was an English knight who held Raglan, in Monmouthshire, in right of his wifeW, and was governor of Tretower CastleW, in Breconshire. He was the eighteenth great-grandfather of Nancy Jane Blanchard (1929–2006), through his son James Berkeley (about 1394–1463).

Early life and marriage

James was a younger son of Maurice de BerkeleyW, Lord Berkeley, and Elizabeth le Despenser, and was probably born about 1353. His elder brother ThomasW succeeded their father as Lord Berkeley, so James’s fortune came by marriage. Elizabeth Bluet was the daughter and heiress of Sir John Bluet of Raglan and the widow of Sir Bartholomew Picot, who died in 1388. Through her, James held Raglan, Talgarth in Breconshire and Daglingworth in Gloucestershire, and in 1399 the couple had Raglan and their other lordships confirmed under the king’s seal. Their son James was born at Raglan about 1394.

Death

Sir James Berkeley made a will and died on 13 June 1405, when his son was about eleven. His widow later married Sir William ap ThomasW.

Notes

Sources

James’s parents, his birth about 1353/4, his lands, his office at Tretower, his marriage, the confirmation of 1399, his sons and his death “testate” on 13 June 1405 are from Douglas Richardson, Magna Carta Ancestry (2005), BERKELEY 8, pp. 73–74. The Complete Peerage, 1st edition, vol. 1 (1887), p. 329, and 2nd edition, vol. 2 (1912), p. 132, make him the next brother of Thomas, Lord Berkeley, and give the same date of death. These are printed genealogies of the medieval nobility; Richardson cites the patent and fine rolls, John Smyth’s Berkeley manuscripts and the chronicle of Adam Usk.

Dates

Burke’s Peerage (1869) says that he died in 1404. Richardson and the Complete Peerage both give 13 June 1405, the date kept here.

A second son

Richardson gives the couple two sons, James and Maurice. Only James, the heir, is part of this family’s line.

Family time line

◉ James Berkeley, Knight –1405
◉ Elizabeth Bluet
No marriage recorded
◉ James Berkeley, 6th Lord Berkeley abt 1394–1463

Recorded events

EventWhenWhereEvidence ?on record - the record itself, its image, or a transcript or printed copy of it has been read
from a compiled source - an index, a printed genealogy or a memorial page says so
not yet documented - in the family record, no source attached yet
Living at
'8. JAMES BERKELEY, Knt., in right of his wife, of Raglan, Monmouthshire, Talgarth, Breconshire, Daglingworth, Gloucestershire, etc., Governor of Tretower Castle, younger son, born about 1353/4. He married ELIZABETH (or ISABEL)...' (Richardson, Magna Carta Ancestry (2005), BERKELEY 8, p.73 (scan 113)) - compiled, no record seen
 1399 Raglan, Monmouthshire, Wales from a compiled source
Death
testate (MCA p.73)
 13 Jun 1405 from a compiled source
Title (Nobility)
Knight (Richardson, Magna Carta Ancestry, BERKELEY 7-8 pp.72-74)
 from a compiled source
13991405 1400

Sources

  • Richardson, Douglas, Magna Carta Ancestry: A Study in Colonial and Medieval Families, ed. Kimball G. Everingham (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 2005) — Living at, Death, Title (Nobility), about this person, family with Elizabeth Bluet

Borders as they stood about 1500, from the historical-basemaps project, the Newberry Library's Atlas of Historical County Boundaries (states and territories, 1783 on) and Natural Earth; the colonies and provinces are drawn along today's lines.

Line of descent

  1. Maurice de Berkeley –1368
  2. Elizabeth le Despenser –1389
    1. Hugh le Despenser –1326
      1. Hugh le Despenser 1261–1326
        1. Hugh le Despenser
        2. Aline Basset
          1. Philip Basset
          2. not yet known
      2. Isabel de Beauchamp –1306
        1. William de Beauchamp –1298
          1. William de Beauchamp
          2. Isabel Mauduit
            1. William Mauduit
            2. not yet known
        2. Maud FitzJohn –1301
          1. John FitzGeoffrey –1258
            1. Geoffrey Fitz Peter
              1. Piers de Lutegareshale
              2. Maud (surname unknown)
            2. Aveline de Clare
              1. Roger de Clare
              2. not yet known
          2. Isabel le Bigod
            1. Hugh le Bigod –1225
              1. Roger le Bigod –1221
              2. Ida (surname unknown)
            2. Maud Marshal –1248
              1. William Marshal
              2. Isabel de Clare
    2. Eleanor de Clare 1292–1337
      1. Gilbert de Clare 1243–1295
        1. Richard de Clare 1222–1262
          1. Gilbert de Clare –1230
            1. Richard de Clare –1217
              1. Roger de Clare
              2. Maud de Saint Hilary
            2. Amice of Gloucester
              1. William Fitz Robert
              2. Hawise de Beaumont
          2. Isabel Marshal –1240
            1. William Marshal
              1. John Marshal 1105–1165
              2. Sybil Salisbury 1126–
            2. Isabel de Clare
              1. Richard FitzGilbert
              2. not yet known
        2. Maud de Lacy
          1. John de Lacy –1240
            1. Roger de Lacy
            2. Maud (surname unknown)
          2. Margaret de Quincy –1266
            1. Robert de Quincy –1217
              1. Saher de Quincy –1219
              2. Margaret de Beaumont –1235
            2. Hawise of Chester 1180–1243
      2. Joan of England 1272–1307
        1. Edward of England 1239–1307
          1. Henry of England 1207–1272
            1. John of England 1166–1216
              1. Henry of England 1133–1189
              2. Eleanor of Aquitaine –1204
            2. Isabel of Angouleme –1246
              1. Ademar Taillefer
              2. Alice of Courtenay
          2. Eleanor of Provence –1291
            1. Raymond Berenger of Provence
            2. Beatrice of Savoy
        2. Eleanor of Castile –1290
          1. Fernando of Castile 1201–1252
            1. Alfonso of Leon 1171–1230
              1. Fernando of Leon
              2. Urraca of Portugal
            2. Berenguela of Castile –1246
              1. Alfonso of Castile 1155–1214
              2. Eleanor of England 1162–1214
          2. Jeanne de Dammartin –1279
            1. Simon de Dammartin
              1. Alberic Dammartin 1138–1200
              2. Mathilde Clermont 1140–1218
            2. Marie of Ponthieu

Descendants

  1. James Berkeley abt 1394–1463
    1. William Berkeley 1426–
    2. Maurice Berkeley abt 1435–1506
      1. Anne Berkeley
        1. Isabel Dennis
        2. Walter Dennis
        3. Maurice Dennis
        4. William Dennis
        5. Thomas Dennis
        6. Francis Dennis
        7. John Dennis
        8. Anne Dennis
        9. Katherine Dennis
        10. Eleanor Dennis
        11. Bridget Dennis
        12. Mary Dennis
        13. Margaret Dennis
      2. Maurice Berkeley
      3. Thomas Berkeley
        1. Joan Berkeley 1503–1563
      4. James Berkeley
        1. Mary Berkeley 1510–1567
    3. James Berkeley
    4. Thomas Berkeley
    5. Isabel Berkeley
    6. Margaret Berkeley
    7. Elizabeth Berkeley
    8. Alice Berkeley