The Norman Conquest of Box Parish
Finding Bartholomew Bigod
Jane Cox
March 2014
Left: The arch to this effigy is believed to have been built for
Bartholomew's successor, Samson Bigod. The statue itself is of
Anthony Long and was introduced much later.
Finding Bartholomew Bigod
Jane Cox
March 2014
Left: The arch to this effigy is believed to have been built for
Bartholomew's successor, Samson Bigod. The statue itself is of
Anthony Long and was introduced much later.
George Kidson’s Challenge
George Kidson, A History of the Manor of Hazelbury, 1936, points to a Charter held by the British Museum which begins, Knowing all living and to come that I Samson de Box, knight and heir of Bartholomew de Box and of Beatrice his wife, give, grant and confirm ... to the monks...a yearly rent of 12d....the mill of Box....... which my father Bartholomew Bygot gave to them.......
Kidson comments, As Sir Henry Croke is a witness to this charter, it may be safely assigned to the second Sampson de la Boxe, an attribution which is strengthened by the fact that the British Museum dates the document in the reign of Henry III, (1216-72) .... we learn the names of Sampson’s father and mother – which, in view of the obscurity of the Box branch of the great Bigot family, may help some other researcher to elucidate their history.
I am a present researcher working on a book in which I invite you to assess my findings and to explore any further leads about the landowners in our Parish from Domesday. The name of Box is not included in William the Conqueror’s Great Land Survey of 1086 (Domesday Book), but in Box Parish there is one entry for Ditteridge with its Saxon history and four for Hazelbury, reflecting the importance of the stone quarries.
Other charters are signed by Bartholomew le Bygot and by Sampson Bigod de la Boxe. The name Bigod has many variations, Baggett, Baget, Bigodett, Bibuteau, Bigottin, Bigos, Bidgood to name a few and these are only the ones beginning with B! We also find Wigot, Vigot and Pigot with all their variations. Bigods are also called Brico and Goz in Danish and Norman archives, eg Viking Rollo Brico and Vicompte Thurstan le Goz of Normandy. Bigod is just one name to research in medieval Box Parish and it is a fascinating challenge to identify people especially after Domesday as records are scanty until the 1200s.
Researching the Bigods of Box Parish (from the 1120s) means examining Saxon, Norman and Viking records with the Domesday book as a starting point. Here are some names in the Battle Abbey Roll of King William's Companions with a direct connection to Box Parish: Richard d'Avranches, Guillaume Bigot, Robert Bigot, Honfroi de Boho, Gilbert & Guillaume & Mile Crispin, Robert d'Eu, Guillaume Fitz Osberne, Toustain Fitz Rou, Robert de Grenville, Auvrai de Merleberge, Robert d'Ouilli.[1]
References
[1] midgleywebpages.com/battleroll
[Can anyone help Jane to find out more about the Norman origins of Box village and its early history.
Use the Contact tab to give your views on this fascinating puzzle.]
George Kidson, A History of the Manor of Hazelbury, 1936, points to a Charter held by the British Museum which begins, Knowing all living and to come that I Samson de Box, knight and heir of Bartholomew de Box and of Beatrice his wife, give, grant and confirm ... to the monks...a yearly rent of 12d....the mill of Box....... which my father Bartholomew Bygot gave to them.......
Kidson comments, As Sir Henry Croke is a witness to this charter, it may be safely assigned to the second Sampson de la Boxe, an attribution which is strengthened by the fact that the British Museum dates the document in the reign of Henry III, (1216-72) .... we learn the names of Sampson’s father and mother – which, in view of the obscurity of the Box branch of the great Bigot family, may help some other researcher to elucidate their history.
I am a present researcher working on a book in which I invite you to assess my findings and to explore any further leads about the landowners in our Parish from Domesday. The name of Box is not included in William the Conqueror’s Great Land Survey of 1086 (Domesday Book), but in Box Parish there is one entry for Ditteridge with its Saxon history and four for Hazelbury, reflecting the importance of the stone quarries.
Other charters are signed by Bartholomew le Bygot and by Sampson Bigod de la Boxe. The name Bigod has many variations, Baggett, Baget, Bigodett, Bibuteau, Bigottin, Bigos, Bidgood to name a few and these are only the ones beginning with B! We also find Wigot, Vigot and Pigot with all their variations. Bigods are also called Brico and Goz in Danish and Norman archives, eg Viking Rollo Brico and Vicompte Thurstan le Goz of Normandy. Bigod is just one name to research in medieval Box Parish and it is a fascinating challenge to identify people especially after Domesday as records are scanty until the 1200s.
Researching the Bigods of Box Parish (from the 1120s) means examining Saxon, Norman and Viking records with the Domesday book as a starting point. Here are some names in the Battle Abbey Roll of King William's Companions with a direct connection to Box Parish: Richard d'Avranches, Guillaume Bigot, Robert Bigot, Honfroi de Boho, Gilbert & Guillaume & Mile Crispin, Robert d'Eu, Guillaume Fitz Osberne, Toustain Fitz Rou, Robert de Grenville, Auvrai de Merleberge, Robert d'Ouilli.[1]
References
[1] midgleywebpages.com/battleroll
[Can anyone help Jane to find out more about the Norman origins of Box village and its early history.
Use the Contact tab to give your views on this fascinating puzzle.]