Sir Alexander de Paulett, of Leigh

Hercules de Tournon appears to be a mythic personage and it appears that "Hercule de Touron" was in fact Sir Alexander D'Aunou. The founder of the Paulett lineage is really descended from the Norman house of D'Aunou. Baldric Teutonicus, living c. 990, was ancestor of the Courcys, Nevilles, and D'Aunous. Fulco, Sire D'Aunou, his son, was father of Fulco, Sire D'Aunou, mentioned by Wace as present at Hastings (ii. 237). He occurs t. Will. I. (Gall. Christ, xi. 61, 330 Instr.) In 1082 Fulco de Alno, perhaps his son, occurs (lb. 70) ; and 1124 Fulco de Alnou is mentioned in a charter of Henry I. to Dive, Normandy (lb. 159). These barons, and Fulco De Alnou 1165, were amongst the magnates of Normandy; their barony consisting of thirty-eight fees. (Duchesne, Feoda.) In the reign of Henry I. Fulco de A. had a grant from the Crown of Grandon in Somerset, a member of North Petherton, and Poolet another member. The latter was held as half a knight's fee (Testa, 162). Another part of Poolet belonged to a different owner, and descended to the family of De Gaunt. In 1165 Alexander De Alno, a younger son of Fulco, held a knight's fee in Somer set (Lib. Niger). As Alexander ' de Puilleta' (Poolet) he paid monies in Normandy (MSAN, viii. 365). He had two sons : 1. Walter de Poeleth, who 1203 paid a fine in Somerset (Rot. Cane). 2. Robert de Polet, mentioned in Bucks 1198 (RCR), and again in 1200 (lb.). William Pauleth, 1229 (son of Walter) held the Lordship of Leigh, Devon (Testa). His descendant, William de Paulet, was returned as Lord of Paulet, Stretchill, and Walpole, Somerset, in 1316 (PPW). The family remained in possession of Paulet till the time of Elizabeth. From it descended the Marquises of Winchester and Earls Poulett, and the Dukes of Bolton.