de BOHUN

de Bohon, Boun, Boon, Bowne

Information on this page from Windows Into Our Past, A Genealogy of the Parsons, Smith and Associated Families, Vol. 1 ©1996, Judy Parsons Smith

Ralph de Mary

Ralph de Mary , m. secretly  to the daughter of the lord of Mont Haguez .  Ralph de Mary and his wife had a son:

Richard I de Mary

Richard I de Mary , son of Ralph de Mary  & daughter of the lord of Mont Haguez , m. Billeheude (Billeheust) , daughter of a certain Richard de Billeheust  or Richard de Saint Sauveur .

Richard I de Mary  was also known as Richard the Old.  It was he, who is attributed with the founding, in 950, of the churches of Sainte Come du Mont, de Bohon , and de Meautis .

Richard I & Billeheude ( de Billeheust )   de Mary  had three (3) children:

1.       Richard de Mary
2.       Humphrey de Mary
3.       Enjuger de Mary

Humphrey I, The Old

1.  Humphrey I, The Old , son of Richard of Mary &  Billeheude, d. between 1080 and 1093;  m1st (Unknown); m2nd (Unknown); m3rd (Unknown). By 1066 Humphrey had been married three times. Humphrey was a senior citizen.

The names of  Honfroy, Onfrei, Onfroi, Unfridus, Humfridus are all translated to mean Humphrey .

Humphrey I, the Old gained his fortune at an early age by accompanying William the Conqueror . It is probable that Humphrey participated in the Battle of Hastings.  On the Bayeux tapestry, in a meal scene presided over by Bishop Odo , a bearded man is sitting to William 's right. It is possible that Humphrey de Bohon --with the Beard--who would occupy a place of honor at the table out of respect for his age.   He is mentioned in the Domesday Book as a champion and defender of the throne, and as lord of Taterford in Norfolk .  He was the godfather of William .  He was described as a rich and noble man.  He founded the Bohon priory in Normandy and gave birth to two branches of the family.  Humphrey I, was also known as:  Humphrey The Old, Humfridus cum Barba or Humphrey with the Beard.  His beard distinguished him from other Norman knights of the period because they habitually shaved.

Humphrey the Old's signature is found on several documents:  1) a treaty, signed at Bayeaux,  between the abbey of Mont St. Michel and William Payne; 2)   an endowment of the church of St. George's de Boscherville;  3) a gift of St. Gervais Church and St. Portais to St. Florent de Saumur with other revenues by William de Briouze; 4) a document of William the Conqueror  at Caen confirming the foundation of the Lessay Abbey on 14 July 1080; and 5) the founding of Montebourg Abbey.

Humphrey the Old had six (6) children:

1.1.       Robert de Mary , died young, before his father.
1.2.       Humphrey de Mary , d. 1129
1.3.      Richard de Mary
1.4.      Enguerran de Mary  - monk at Marmoutier.
1.5.       daughter - nun
1.6.       daughter - nun

Humphrey II , The Great

1.2.  Humphrey II, The Great , son of Humphrey the Old, d. ca. 1129; m1st between 1087 and 1100 to Maud (Matilda or Mahaut), daughter of Edward de Salisbury , d. 1142.

Humphrey II , was also known as Humphrey the Magnificent or Humphrey the Great.  He benefited in the favor of Kings William Rufus  and Henry I of England . Through his marriage to Maud de Salisbury  he gained much honor and wealth.  He was active during the reign of Henry I of England .  We find him hopping between England and France from 1103 to 1128.  A sketch of his travels follow:

Location                                              Year
England                                 1103-1109
Avranches in Normandy                     1113
Rouen                                       1119
England                                     1121
Rouen                                       1125
England                                     1128

Humphrey II & Maud ( de Salisbury ) de Bohon  had two (2) children:

1.2.1.         Maud de Bohon
1.2.2.        Humphrey de Bohon , III

Humphrey de Bohun   III

1.2.2.  Humphrey  de Bohun III, son of Humphrey II & Maud (de Salisbury) de Bohon , b. 1109; d. 6 April 1187; bur. at the Lanthony Abbey (Gloucestershire); m. Margery (Marguerite, Margaret) , eldest daughter of daughter of Miles (a/k/a Milo of  Gloucester ) Fitz Walter & Sibyl de Neufmarchér  from whom he received the hereditary right to the title of constable of England.

  Humphrey III was steward and lord chancellor to Henry I.  He shared the post with Hugh   Bigot/Bigod , Robert Haye , and Simon de Beauchamp .   He is found with  Henry I at Argues and Dieppe in 1131.  From 1131 to 1133, he they travel through various English towns.  In 1133 & 1134, their travels take them to Rouen in Normandy and Argentan.  Humphrey kept his duties as steward presiding over charters during the reign of King Stephen .  His role as lord chancellor supplies us with a unique ability to track his whereabouts though documents that he signed while traveling on the king's business.  We find him in England with the king from 1153-1154; Normandy in 1156 at Argentan, Falaise, and Quevilly in 1174; he was with his peers at Chinon in 1170-1173; between 1174-1179 back in England; and in 1180 & 1182, he was again in Normandy at Valognes, Cherbourg, and Bonneville-sur-Touques.

At the instigation of his father-in-law, Milo de Gloucester , rallied with Matilda and defended Trowbridge against King Steven , in 1139.  During the anarchy that followed, he fought passionately with Matilda 's loyal and true followers.  On 25 Jul 1141 he saw his father-in-law, Milo, named earl of Hereford .  In 1141 at the Battle of Winchester Humphrey was taken prisoner.  In 1153 Humphrey 's inheritances in England and Normandy were confirmed by Henry II , (King of England  to be).

In April 1173 when Prince Henry rebelled against his father, King Henry II , Humphrey stood by the king. With Richard de Lucy  he invaded Scotland in an attack against King William the Lion  who supported Prince Henry and the destruction of the bishop's palace at Durham . Humphrey and company burned Berwick and penetrated deeply into Scotland . But when they learned of the landing of Robert de Beaumont  (earl of Leicester and friend of Prince Henry ) in Suffolk (29 September 1173), they made a truce with William the Lion and marched against Beaumont . Humphrey battled with the help of the peasants and was taken prisoner with his wife at Fornham St. Geneviere near Bury St. Edmond ( Suffolk ) on 16 October 1173. The prisoners were taken to Falaise castle.   On 1 December 1174/5 in Falaise, Humphrey witnessed a peace accord between Henry II and William the Lion recognizing the sovereignty of England over Scotland .  

Humphrey III & Margaret  of Hereford  had two (2) children:

1.2.2.1.      Humphrey de Bohon   IV , m. Margaret de Huntingdon
1.2.2.2.      Margaret de Bohon , m. as his first wife of Waleran, earl of Warwick .

Humphrey de Bohun IV

1.2.2.1.  Humphrey de Bohun IV , son of Humphrey III & Margaret  of Hereford , d. 1182, France (while serving Henry the younger); m. after 1171 to Margaret de Huntingdon , daughter of Henry & Ada (de Warenne) de Huntingdon , d. 1201 {sister of King William the Lion  of Scotland }  Margaret de Huntingdon had m1st Conan le Petit , earl of Brittany and Richmond, c. 1171.  Humphrey was the Baron de Bohun , the Lord of Hereford and the Constable of England.  Humphrey & Margaret ( de Huntingdon ) de Bohun IV  had a son:

Henry de Bohon

1.2.2.1.1.   Henry de Bohon , son of Humphrey IV & Margaret (de Huntingdon) de Bohon, b. 1176; d. 1 June 1220 while on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, bur Lanthony abbey; m. Maud (Mathilda) Fitz Geoffrey de Mandeville , daughter of Geoffrey Fitz Piers  & Beatrice de Say , d. 27 Aug 1236.

Henry was the Sheriff of Kent, the 1^st Earl of Hereford (1200-1220), in 1200 the Hereditary Constable of England; 12 Jun 1215 signed the Magna Charta Surety.  Maud Fitz Geoffrey  was the Countess of Essex.

Henry was created earl of Hereford on 28 April 1199. Henry was the first of the Bohons to have the title, which included an annual income. The Bohons enjoyed being in possession of great lands at the frontier of the Welsh country which was always threatened. The other marcher lords enjoyed it, too, because their military importance and independence was greater than that of other royal lords. Politically they were stronger by being closer to the king.

Henry took an active part in the revolt of barons which ended with the signing of the Magna Carta at Runnymeade ( Surrey ) on 12 July 1215. The lands that had been confiscated from Henry were returned and the 25 lords took it upon themselves to make sure the charter was enforced.

After the death of Henry II , Henry de Bohon  did not ally himself with the new king, Henry III . He was taken prisoner at the Battle of Lincoln on 20 May 1217, where Louis of France  was defeated.

Henry & Maud ( de Mandeville ) de Bohon  had four (4) sons:

1.2.2.1.1.1.       Humphrey de Bohon   V
1.2.2.1.1.2.       Henry de Bohon , who died young
1.2.2.1.1.3.       Ralph de Bohon , benefactor of the Abbey of Grendon who married Lora
1.2.2.1.1.4.       Robert de Bohon , mentioned in the Book of Walden.

Humphrey V de Bohun

1.2.2.1.1.1.  Humphrey V de Bohun , son of Henry & Maud (de Mandeville) de Bohon , b. before 1208; d. 24 September 1275 on the way to Kenilworth (Warwick); bur. at Lanthony; m1st to Maud (Mathilda) D’eu (de Lusignan) , daughter of Raoul I de Lusignan  & Alice d’Eu , d. 14 Aug 124; m2nd Maud (Mathilda) of Avebury , daughter and heiress of Roger of Tosny , d. 1264.

Humphrey V de Bohun  was the second earl of Hereford, first earl of Essex, and constable of England, was a great soldier and played a major role in the uprising of the barons against the absolutism of Henry III. Humphrey succeeded his father on 1 June 1220, then came into possession of his lands and was confirmed earl of Hereford. On 28 Apr 1228, after the death of his uncle, William of Mandeville , he inherited the title of earl of Essex.

Humphrey was reinstated as Marshall of the king's house. He served at the marriage of Henry III and Eleanor of Provence  (1236), and was one of nine godfathers at the christening of the future Edward I (1239) .   From 1239-1241 Humphrey was sheriff of Kent and constable of Dover castle. He also distinguished himself in the Welsh and French wars.  In 1248 Humphrey was presented to Parliament. In 1250 he took the cross and went to the Holy Land.

 In 1253 Humphrey participated in a grand remonstrance made to the king at Westminster Hall with the "bell, book, and candle" for violations against the Magna Carta, a prelude to the revolt. From 1256-1258 "Mr. Humphrey de Boun " participated in many battles with the Welsh. In 1259 he was one of the barons who worked to re-establish a truce between King Henry II I  and Llewellyn, Prince of Wales . But the following year there were again hostilities between the two. The king summoned Richard of Clare  and Humphrey de Bohon  to the army with other lords, Humphrey de Boun Jr.  and Frank de Boun .

Humphrey was one of the councilors to draw up the Provisions of Oxford in 1258 which affirmed the Magna Carta and reformed its misuse. He was one of the Council of Fifteen that advised the king. The next year he was commissioner to ratify a treaty between France and England. In 1260 Humphrey was a traveling judge for the counties of Hereford, Gloucester, and Worcester. In 1262, he negotiated peace with Llewellyn of Wales .

Humphrey V's attitude toward the new conflicts between the king and the barons has been confused with that of his son. When the barons divided their confederation Humphrey sided with Simon de Montfort . In 1263 he was one of the important barons who supported the king while his son was on the opposite side. Humphrey was taken prisoner at the Battle of Lewes.  Humphrey V was chosen one of 12 arbitrators to bring peace between the king and Simon.

Humphrey V & Maud (de Lusignan)  de Bohun had five (5) children:

1.2.2.1.1.1.1.       Humphrey de Bohun VI
1.2.2.1.1.1.2.       Matilda (Maud)  de Bohun , m. Anselme Marshall , earl of Pembroke, d. 1245
1.2.2.1.1.1.3.       Cecilia or Alicia de Bohun , m. Ralph de Toni
1.2.2.1.1.1.4.       daughter, m. Roger de Quincy , earl of Winchester.  See de Quincy - Vol. 1.
1.2.2.1.1.1.5.       daughter

Humphrey V  & Maud (of Tosny) de Bohun  one (1) son:

1.2.2.1.1.1.6.       John, lord of Haresfield .  He participated in the Battle of Evesham as one of the rebels.  John de Bohun  had a son:

1.2.2.1.1.1.6.1.  Edmond de Bohon

Humfrey de Bohun VI

1.2.2.1.1.1.1.  Humfrey de Bohun VI , son of Humphrey de Bohun V & Maud Fitz Geoffrey , d. 27 Oct 1265; m1st by 15 Feb 1247.1248 to Eleanor de Braiose , daughter of William & Eva (Marshall) de Braiose .   Humphrey VI was the Earl of Hereford and Essex.  He was at the battle of Falkirk in 1298.  There he bore the following arms:  azure a bend argent cotised or, between six lyonceux rampant of the last.[i]  Humfrey & Eleanor (de Braiose) de Bohun  VI had:

Humphrey de Bohun VI I

1.2.2.1.1.1.1.1.  Humphrey de Bohun VI I , son of Humfrey & Eleanor (de Braiose) de Bohun  VI, b. ca. 1249; d. 31 Dec 1298, Pleshey, England;; m. 1275 to Maud de Fiennes , daughter of Seigneur de Fiennes  & Ingelram de Fiennes .  Humphrey de Bohun VII, was the Earl of Hereford, Earl of Essex, and Lord High Constable of England.  He was at the battle of Falkirk in 1298 and at the siege of Carlaverock in 1300.  He was granted a coat of arms described as bore the bend ermine cotised argent.  In 1301, Humphrey VII sealed the Baron’s letter to the Pope.  Humphrey & Maud (de Fiennes)  de Bohun  VII had a son. 

Humphrey de Bohun VI I I

1.2.2.1.1.1.1.1.1.  Humphrey de Bohun, VI II , b. 1276; d. 16 Mar 1321, killed at the Battle of Boroughbridge, Yorkshire; m. 14 Nov 1302 to Elizabeth Plantagenet , daughter of Edward I, King of England , & Eleanor of Castile , b. 7 Aug 1282; d. 5 May 1316; she m1- unknown.

Humphrey was the 4th Earl of Hereford and Earl of Essex, Lord High Constable of England and Lord of Brecknock.  He sealed the Barons’ letter to the Pope in 1301.  He bore his coat-of-arms at the battle of Falkirk in 1298, and at the siege of Carlaverock in 1300.  The coat-of-arms is described as: azure a bend argent cotised or, between six lyon ceux rampant of the last.[ii]

Humphrey & Elizabeth  de Bohun had children:

1.2.2.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.  Sir William de Bohun , m. Elizabeth de Baldesmere
1.2.2.1.1.1.1.1.1.2.  Eleanor de Bohun , m. James Butler , Earl of Ormond
1.2.2.1.1.1.1.1.1.3.  Margaret de Bohun

Margaret de Bohun

1.2.2.1.1.1.1.1.1.3.  Margaret de Bohun , daughter of Humphrey & Elizabeth  de Bohun, d. 16 Dec 1391, buried Exeter Cathedral; m. 11 Aug 1325 to Hugh  de Courtenay , K.G. , son of Sir Hugh & Eleanor (Les Despenser)  de Courtenay , b. 12 Jul 1303; d. 2 May 1377; buried Exeter Cathedral.  Hugh & Margaret de Courtenay  had children:

1.2.2.1.1.1.1.1.1.3.1.  Elizabeth de Courtenay , m. Andrew Luttrell
1.2.2.1.1.1.1.1.1.3.2.  Sir Edward Courtenay , m. Emmeline, daughter of Sir John Dauney , Knt.
1.2.2.1.1.1.1.1.1.3.3.  Sir Philip Courtenay , Lord Lieutenant of Ireland; m. Anne