Reginald de Scudamore

Warren Skidmore, SOME NOTES ON THE SKIDMORE (SCUDEMER) FAMILY FROM IN THE 11TH TO THE 14TH CENTURIES IN SOUTHWEST ENGLAND. Occasional Papers, no.44. Akron, Ohio, 2010. Available athttp://skidmorefamilyhistory.webplus.net/OP44%20Notes%2011th%20to%2014th%20cent.pdf.

pp. 30-31

UPTON: REGINALD DE SCUDAMORE

Reginald had succeeded Ralph, the Domesday tenant, at Upton [Scudamore] and elsewhere by 1120. He was Ralph’s eldest son and heir, probably born soon after 1075. He had married by 1100, perhaps to a daughter of Godfrey Mauduit.80 The evidence for his marriage is speculative, but it is convincing enough to suggest that the sequence of men named Godfrey Scudamore owe their name to a Mauduit ancestor. Presumably Reginald had gone out to Wiltshire as a young man (perhaps in the lifetime of his father) to settle at Upton Scudamore which was the caput of the family’s fees. Soon after, Reginald Escudemor granted to his brother Walter for his homage and service a third of Upton in Wiltshire.81 These will be noticed in greater detail when we turn to the family at Corras and Poston. The witness list to this charter is made up of Wiltshire men and it was undoubtedly attested at Upton Scudamore. Several of the men who testify to it are Reginald's kinsmen: Godfrey Mauduit, who heads the list, may have been his father-in-law; Mathew Escudemor was probably a younger son, and (most importantly) Rainald is identified as a “son of his mother” and therefore a half brother of Reginald Escudemor. The two Giffards were from the family that gave their name to Fonthill Giffard, and were probably both kinsmen and tenants of Reginald.82 Ancelin Mauduit is likely to have been a son of Godfrey, and if so a brother-in-law to Reginald Escudemor. Something less is known of Arnold Marshal, Roger fitz Alan and Walter de Kennett.83

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The Scudamores are said to have a house at Upton Scudamore immediately adjoining the church on the west. It stood in a field called Court Furlong and a considerable ruin could still be seen in the early 18th century. The site is now covered by a modern cattle shed.84 Since we find Reginald de Scudemer mostly in Wiltshire this was his principal residence, although he probably spent a part of his time with his lord in Herefordshire at Ewyas Castle.

Walter de Scudemer, perhaps the second son, was ancestor to the family in Herefordshire and will be noticed when we turn to the Scudamores at Corras. Hugh de Scudemer was also a Herefordshire man. He would seem to have been the youngest of the sons of Ralph de Scudemor, since he is mentioned last among the brothers who testify to the grant by Harold de Ewyas about the year 1120. Our only other mention of a Hugh occurs at what would seem to be an impossibly late date for the two men to be identical. If Hugh, adult by 1120, was still living in 1167 he would have been an old man in 1167 by 12th century standards. However not so old as to rule out the possibility. In the Pipe Roll for 1167 under “New pleas and agreements made through Alan de Neville" we find that Hugh “de Scudimor” and Hugh fitz Orild render an account for half a mark, which they paid into the king's treasury and they are quit.”85 Both men are likely to have been Herefordshire personages since their debt to crown was paid to the sheriff there. It would seem that this Hugh was more likely to have been a younger son of Walter (I) Scudamore.

NOTES

80 Gunfrid (surnamed Mauduit) held two hides at Dinton from Shaftesbury Abbey in the Domesday Book. He was succeeded there probably by a son Godfrey Mauduit, and by a grandson, Ancelin Mauduit who appears to have held the same two hides in the mid-12th century (VCH, Wilts., VIII, 27, 28). Gunfrid also held five hides at Widhill from Alfred de Marlborough in 1086 (VCH, Wilts., II, 142) By 1243 this had been divided and Thomas Mauduit and Godfrey Escudemor each held 1/4 of a fee in Widhill of Robert de Tregoz of the honor of Ewyas Harold. (Book of Fees, 712). Godfrey Mauduit and Ancelin Mauduit are also witnesses (Godfrey being the first) to the charter of Reginald Escudemor cited below. It would appear from the subsidy of 1332 that the name Mauduit was later usually corrupted to Moody. 81As the Latin text of this charter has not appeared in print it seems useful to append it here:

“Sciant his qui sunt et qui futuri quod ego Reginaldus Escudemor dedi et concessi et hac presenti carta mea confirmavi Waltero Escudemor fratria/ meo pro homagio et servicio suo Kaueros cum omnibus pertinenciis suis et terciam partem de Upton cum omnibus pertinenciis suis et unam mesuagium in villa de/ Ewias habendum et tenendum de me heredibus meis sibi et heredibus suis libere quiete bene et in pace in perpetuum faciendo inde annuatim wardam in Ewias/ vel reddere unam marcam . Hiis testibus Godefrido Maudut . Matheo Escudemor . Reinaldo filio matris sue . Warnero Giffard . Waltero Giffard Waltero de Kenete . Ernaldo Marescall . Ancelino Maudut . Rogero filio Alain et multis aliis.” The original is now in the Henry E. Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

82 See J. H. Round, Giffard of Fonthill Giffard (The Ancestor, VI, 137). The same Walter Giffard held a fee of Godfrey de Scudamore in 1166 probably Fifield (Bavant) which is close to Fonthill Giffard. No other mention has been found of Warner Giffard.

83 Roger fitz Alan may have been ancestor to the fitz Alans of Clun who appear to have been overlords of Norridge in Upton Scudamore. Walter de Kennett presumably held West Kennett in Wiltshire from Robert de Ewyas.

84 When this cow shed was built several years ago the ruins of an ancient building was found in excavating for the foundation. These were quickly covered over and work continued on the new structure, according to R. G. Woodman. The tenants of the manor would have assembled here on court days. The coordinates are 864 477 on the Ordnance Survey maps.

85 Pipe Roll 1167 (PRS 11) 71. Alan de Neville was judge of the exchequer in 1165 and thereafter. For Neville see the old edition of the DNB, XIV, 243.