Recent research would seem to suggest that Robert was actually the son of Ruallo who was himself the grandson of Ruallon but until the link is confirmed this tree stays with the traditional history. Furthermore, the ancestral tree of Robert requires confirmation as a close look at the dates would seem to show anomalies ( RY- October 2000)
February 2004 - Having just acquired a copy of MHP's working papers for her book, I see that see she states that Ruallon is PROBABLY the father of Robert, which gives more credance to the opening paragraph. -RY
The First Hougham. He took the surname of Hougham, the meaning being the same as Averanche - a home in a hilly place. Part Norman and part Saxon "Hough - on a hill" ham saxon for home.
He is recorded on the Derring role of Arms in the college of Arms at the commencement of the pedigree of Houghams .
Also it records 4 other Robert de Hougham in sequence.
He is recorded in a list of Knights with King Richard 1 at the siege of Acre on crusades in 1191.
In 1189 by deed of grant he granted the manor of Boxley which he owned to the abbey of Maidstone in return for certain services from the abbots there, according to this same same deed of grant he owned the manor of Wavering and had let part of it prior to this date 1189
He held the manor of Wavering of the King "in capite in wavringe 40 s rent rendering this service from it that when ever he king shouild march to Wales, he should find a horse to the value of 5s with a wallet and a broche for 40 days at the kings cost" A broche was a large vessel of leather in which to carry wine..
He is given in the Rotary Escheat Role for the manor of Wavering as Robert de Hougham Lord of Hougham, and so owned the manor of Hougham.
References:
Derring role of Arms
1190 List of Knights
1189 Deed of Grant Records Maidstone Abbey
All Eschest Roles
Assessment of Knights Fees
Inquisitions of Wavering 1191 -1307
Robert de Hougham I accompanied King Richard 1st "The Lion Heart" to Palestine in the Crusades. He is the first Hougham (as far as known by 1946) to be knighted and receive Coat of Arms. -The arms being "Ar .5 chevs, sableAt about same time as this Robert was a John de Hougham of Whitstable .Kent ,England land who stood pledge for Ralph de Ditton.
From Irelands "History of Kent" vol.II.p.136 -. l37."The Parish of Hougham lies along the high Eastern hills of the
county of Kent.The manor was held by a family that took it's name of Hougham from this Parish (Hasted's Kent, . vol.9. p. 452. and Ireland's -v.2.p,137 "Chilham was the principal seat of manor of Hougham. (Sometimes called Huffam and and Hicham and Hugham In Domesday Book.)Hasted's Kent.vol.9.p.202. "Hougham of Dover, who in allusion to the arms of their superior Lords.the Averanches.or Albrineas Albrincas, Lords of the Barony of Folkstone - of whom they hold their lands.bore for their arms" (also vol. 9. p. 452-a Statement by Philpott) Arms, Argent ,5 Chevronnels. sable.
Derring Role of Arms.in College of Arms-records this Robert Hougham of Hougham,Kent ,at commencement of Pedigree of "Hougham".He Is given in a list of knights with King Richard 1st at seige-of Acon.on crusade 1191.
Robert de Hougham I owned the manor of Boxley in Kent, also the manor of Wavering, near Maidstone ,Kent. He granted the manor of Boxley to the Abbey of Maidstone( deed of grant 1189) in return for certain services from the Abbotts there ,according to the deed of grant he had let part of the Weavering prior to 1189,
Hasted' s.vol.II.p.27."Fulbert de Lucie assumed name of Dover(Fulbert de Dover) had Baronial residence at Chilham.his descendant Richard de Dover-manor of Hougham held by Knights service-by family who took it's name from this Parish. -Robert Hougham-knight-of Hougham manor near Dover,Suggested connections.Philpott says "That the Arms of Hougham was borne by them in token of their holding under the family of Averanch .Lords of Folkestone, such being a common practise in days of heraldy. the family of Everenge -Everlnge in like manner ---- either to mark their descent from or feudal connection with the same Lords of Folkestone.Here again is the assumption that although Houghams bore the name of their manor yet they WERE EITHER COLLATERAL DESCENDANCY OF THE FAMILY OF AVERANCE OR CONNECTED WITH THEM BY MARRIAGE
The position of Weddington favors this assumption as it is adjacent to the lands which were part of the Barony of Folkestone, and in the tenure of de Averanch in the 12th Century."
The Lords of the Manor presided at Chilverton Elms in a mansion built by Peter Nepueu in 1640. This probably replaced a much earlier building, as, after the Norman Conquest, the Manor was held by a family who took the name of Hougham. One of this family, Robert de Hougham, fought with his King Richard I at Aeon in Palestine(?) Another member was associated with Stephen de P?ts, Constable of Dover Castle, 1165-1198. Yet another Richard de Hougham was Prior of Dover Priory, (From Ingram Bromley (1728-1820) : His Life and Times
by Frank William Bromley (1915-1986)
William d'Avranche Lord of Folkestone
Possibly the builder of Averanche Tower Dover Castle
By 1066, at the time of the next great invasion, Folkestone was a mere hamlet occupied by fishermen and farm workers who cultivated the arable lands that had been cleared in the heavily wooded countryside. At this time the manor of Folkestone was in the ownership of the church at Canterbury. After William became king he took the barony and made a gift of it to his half brother Bishop Odo. By 1086, the year of Doomsday the barony was held by William D'Arcy. It was given a value of £100 and consisted of approximately 6240 acres, 5 churches, approximately 600 people of whom 209 were villains and 83 bondsmen.
Subtenants of the Barony included Hugh Fitzwilliam, Walter de Appeville, Bernard de St. Owens, Walter FitzEnglebert, Eudo, Baldric, Richard, Alured, Wesman and Alured Dapifer. In 1095 the lord of the manor was Nigel de Muneville. Nigel de Muneville built the town a new church to replace that which was destroyed by Earl Godwin. He did not rebuild the nunnery but built the Folkestone Priory for Benedictine Monks instead. In 1138 a new church and priory were again built, this time by William D'Averanches and dedicated to St. Mary & St. EanswytheIs this the correct William???? -RY
What about this note Averanche = Albrincis
Folkestone Abbey -- more correctly FOLKESTONE PRIORY -- is situated in the east division of Kent about thirty-seven miles from Maidstone. It was originally a monastery of Benedictine nuns founded in 630 by St. Eanswith or Eanswide, daughter of Eadbald, King of Kent, who was the son of St. Ethelbert, the first Christian king among the English. It was dedicated to St. Peter. Like many other similar foundations it was destroyed by the Danes. In 1095 another monastery for Benedictine monks was erected on the same site by Nigel de Mundeville, Lord of Folkestone. This was an alien priory, a cell belong to the Abbey of Lonley or Lolley in Normandy, dedicated to St. Mary and St. Eanswith, whose relics were deposited in the church. The cliff on which the monastery was built was gradually undermined by the sea, and William de Abrincis in 1137 gave the monks a new site, that of the present church of Folkestone. The conventional buildings were erected between the church and the sea coast. Being an alien priory it was occasionally seized by the king, when England was at war with France, but after a time it was made denizen and independent of the mother-house in Normandy and thus escaped the fate which befell most of the alien priories in the reign of Henry V. It continued to the time of the dissolution and was surrendered to the king on 15 Nov., 1535. The names of twelve priors are known, the last being Thomas Barrett or Bassett. The net income at the dissolution was about £50. It was bestowed by Henry VIII on Edmund, Lord Clinton and Saye; the present owner is Lord Radnor. The only part of the monastic buildings remaining is a Norman doorway, but the foundations may be traced for a considerable distance.
DUGDALE, Monasticon, Stevens' Supplement (London, 1722), I, 399; TANNER, Notitia Monastica (London, 1787), s. v. Kent; DUGDALE, Monast. Anglic. (London, 1846), IV, 672.
From another website"In 1166 William de Abrincis held twenty one and a half knights fees of the old feoffment and two and a half of the new, the majority being in Kent. These, or the bulk of them, represented the lands of William of Arques, the Domesday tenant-in-chief, William's father Rualon of Avranches having married Maud daughter and heir of Nigel de Monville by Emma daughter and coheiress of William of Arques. Since Rualon was Sheriff of Kent in 1130 he was then in possession of these lands. In 1172 William de Abrincis held one fee of the honour of Mortain in the bailiwick of Cerences. A charter of Henry II of 1185-88 confirmed to the abbey of Lessay the gift of William de Abrincis of a quarter of the church of St-Sauveur-Landelin, the chapelry of his house and twenty six acres of land, etc. St-Saveur is 24 kil. North of Cerences; this locates William's Norman fee. The original return of his fees made by the abbot of Le Mont-St-Michel in 1172 shows that William de Abrincis did homage to the abbot Robert de Torigni on his accession in 1158 for the land of Noient (Manche, arr. Avranches, cant. Pontorson, comm. Macey), and was holding that land in 1172 for three quarters of a third of a fee. Macey is 14 kil. South of Avranches. The identity of this Norman William with the Kentish tenant-in-chief of 1166 is clinched by the occurrence among his English under-tenants of a Richard de Milers holding two fees of the old feoffment and a Humphrey de Milliers holding one of the new. There is a Millieres 8 kil. NW of St-Sauveur-Landelin, but no such place in Seine-Inferieure whence William of Arques and Nigel de Monville came. These people must have been enfeoffed by the Avranches family. [Origins of Some Anglo-Norman Families]"
He is recorded on Derring Role of Arms as sone of Robert de Hougham 1
He is recorded in An Assessment of Holders of Knights fees at the knighting of the kings son anno 38 Henry 3 (1253-4)
He is recorded as holding in the Hendredum of Beasburgh the following- The manor of Hougham near Dover,entry 85, The Manor of Hawkinge near Folkestone, entry 166, the Manor of Boughton Monchenesy, entry 146
He is recorded on an inquisition dated July 1258 as holding at time of his death the manor of Wavering by the same Knights service as given for his father
He is recorded on another inquisition at his death. It is headed thus" A writ to inquire how much land Robert de Hougham held of the Knights capite. Tested at Westminster 26 July King Henry 6" (1257-8). In it it is recorded that He owned the manor of Boxley (didn't Robert 1 give this away?- RY). He owned a mill and Land at Farlech county Kent. He owned the estate of Hope House near Folkestone. He owned lands in Maidstone and other lands and a weir at and near Maidstone. The writ ends" and Robert de Hougham his son is the next heir and is 8 years old.
This gives the date of his death as just prior to 26 July 1258 and his son as born 1250.
It does not give all his lands as other lands in other Hundredums of the county had their inquisitions, also other lands held of the King by Knights service are stated
He is recorded on a livery of his sons fiefe- lands (see next Robert) which states that he owned the manor of Hougham the manor of Borton Monchenessy the manor of Wavering, the manor of Dolleham ,Sussex where Beatrice died 24 June 1274
References:
Derring Role of Arms,
1253-4 assessment Knights fee entry 85, 166, 146.
Inquisition on death 1258
Livery of Fiefs lands 1274
In 1225 he was of Hope House.
Harliean Society publications 1929.page 250 vol.81. -Knights of Edward first( period covers some of Henry III and of Edward II) Hugham .Sir Robert( 111)de Knight (als or)Scheveronels,or;(dering)aged 24 in1274(son and Heir) of Robert, de Hougham who held Knight fee at Hugam. 1/2 fee at. Bocton near Maidstone ,and Lords at Wewering,Kent with Dollenham Manor, Sussex, and whose wife Beatrice died 1271which Robert aged 8 in 1258 was son & heir of another Robert de Hugam who held lands at Maidstone and Boxeland."
In 1274 Robert de Hougham,Lord of Hougham,near Dover, died, Constable of this( Rochester) Castle. (Constable for one year only) In the year following Robert de Septvans from whom the Harfleets of East Kent are descended had charge of it."
Rotary Escheat Holes. Roles.ejus an N14 gives him at date of death 2 of Edward l(l274) holding Manor of Wavering,same Knights service as Robert de Houham I , also Hope House .Parish of Folkestone , near Combe,
Appendix -A Forgotten Past p.l3l. "Robert de Hougham was Lord of the manor of Wavering, and died possessed of. it in the second year of King Edward I. When it was found"he held it of the King in capite" in Wewring,40 shillings rent rendering this service for it , that whenever the 'King should march with his army towards 'Wales, he should send a horse, the price of five shillings with a wallet and a broche* for forty days at the King's cost", -a broche was a leather vessel to carry wine in. His son Robert de Hougham died seized of this manor 29 th of same reign holding it Capite by the same service."
He is recorded on Derring role of Arms as the son of the above Robert De Hougham
He is recorded as son and next of kin of his father Robert de Hougham and as 8 years old 26 July 1258 on inquisition of fathers fiefes
He is recorded in a livery of his fiefe land 24 June 1274 when he made proof of his age 24 years to obtain his inheritanceas son and heir of Robert de Hougham deceased who held the Manor of Hougham,The Manor of Bockton Monchenessy, the manor of Wavering, Dolleham Sussex.
He is recorded on Rotary Eschest Roll at the time of his death 2nd King Edward 1 (1274)as holding the manor of Waveringby the same Knights service defined for the first Robert.
He was siesed of Hope House an estate in the northern parish of Folkestone on his death (siesed and Fiefed are the same word meaning possessed of the fiefe of; owned by Knights service).
He died Constable of Rochester Castle in the second year of King Edward 1
References
Derring role of Arms
Inquisition 1258
Livery of Fiefe lands 1274
1274 Rotary Esc. Role no 14
Inquisition 1274
Records of Rochester Castle
She is recorded as wife of this Robert de Hougham on the Livery of her son Robert fiefe lands and that she died in 1271
The mention of Dollenham manor and the date of her death being given on her sons claim to it indicates that she brought it on her marriage as her possession or dower
Robert de Hugham aged 24 in 24 June 1274-had suit with John de Hugham re lands at Hugham 30 Dec 1286(Fine rolls)Lic for him to alienate to St Radegurds Abbey by Dover 63 acres of pasture at Hauckinge,Kent 15 June 1293(Patent Rolls) Quittance of 20 marks fine for forest trespass in Essex in consideration of a horse lost at Dover fighting against French.25 August 1295(Close Rolls) Summoned to serve in Flanders,24 Nov. 1297.and.1298.(Parliamentary Writs) dead 18 April l30l.(Flne Rolls) holding land at Wavering,G.Bocton Monchaney manor as 1/2 knight fee ,Hugham Manor as 1 fee,and lands at "Caldecote ,Chiltone Hope and Dover, all in Kent, and leaving son and heir Robert 8-lO(unqui) Alex de Balliol made Castos of Hugham Manor in minority of heir. 28 April l302 (Fine Rolls) Dower to his widow Alice. Alicell -luly 1301 (Close rolls) She makes fine in twelve marks to marry at will 20 May 1304(Fine rolls)
In documents she is named "The Lady Alicia"
.
Jurate of Ash (Placita de'quo Warrento 1293) Planche in "A Corner of Kent page 100 footnote;-"Robert de Hugham,the 4th of the name,father of Robert and Riohard,is named in the Placita de quo Warrento as one of the Jurates 2lst of Edward I, in conjunction with ———etc.——all persons of importance of this Parish(Ash)either from residence or in connection with it."
Close Rolls.1295-Fined for hunting Royal deer in forest of Ash,adjoining W
eddington,
He is recorded on the Derring Role of Arms as son of the above Robert de Hougham and as father of the 5th Robert de Hougham.
He had a suite with a relative John de Hougham regarding lands at Hougham 30 Dec 1286
He is recorded as one of the Jurats of Ash next Sandwich in the Placita de Quo Warrento in 1293 at which time he owned the manor of Weddington in Ash
He obtained licence for him to alienate to Saint Radigwids Abbey by Dover, 63 acres of pasture at Hawkinge Kent 15 June 1293
He was fined 20 m (?) for "forest trespass in Ess" ie hunting the Royal Deer in the forest af Ash which adjoined his manor of Weddington in 1295
He obtained quittance of the fine in consideration of a horse lost at Dover fighting against the French
Grant of Quittance of fine made in close role dated 25 Aug 1295. (Dover was burned by the French in 1295 and so much damaged that for many years it did not recover
He fought throughout the battle of Dover against the French under their Admiral Matthew of Montmorenci according to the close roles dated 25 Aug 1295. In this and all subsequent documents he is referred to as Sir Robert de Hougham
He was Summoned to serve in Flanders 24 Nov 1297
He was summoned with the recurrence of fighting to seve in Flanders again in 1298
He was summoned to serve against the Scots in a parliamentary writ dated 8 Jan 1298
He is recorded in an inquisituion of his fiefe land held of the King The inquisition is dated 18 April 29 Edward 1 (1301) It is Rotary Escheat Role no 48 He had recently died, as inquisition is on lands on death.It records that he owned the Manor of Hougham, the Manor of Wavering, the Manor of Boughton Monchenessy. He owned lands at Caldecote at Chiltone lands at Hope near Folkestone land in Dover akk in Kent. and all by Knights service which perforce passed to his eldest son for similar service. This document ends thus and his son and heir Robert is 8 to 10 years old
HIs manor of Weddington and his lands in Ash passed to his younger son Richard de Hougham of Ash who is recorded so in the college of arms MS27. This and all wills to time of Charles 1st (Given later ) show Weddington continuing with descendants of Richard.
Alex de Baliol was made Custodian of Hougham Manor in the minority of the Heir 28 April 1302 and Guardian of the Heir
References
Derring Role of Arms
Fine Roles 1286
The Placita de Quo Warrento 1293
Patent Roles 1293
Close Roles 1295
1297,8 Parliamentary Writs
Inquisition on Death 1301
College of Arms MS27
Fine Roles 1302The Manors of Kent.( From Sarah Lonsdale's article in Telegraph Property)
The manors are in and around the village of Ash near Canterbury. The remaining 6 houses of the original group of 16 are all now listed and although they have all been chopped about, added to and altered it is possible to see their original hall house construction in hidden roof beams, surviving fireplaces and the occasional exposed lathe and plaster walls.
The manor houses of Ash were unusual at the time of their construction during the late 14 and early 15 centuary in that although they were grand houses they were fairly close together and all in the same parish, in fact at the time the houses went up the presence of about 16 manor houses inhabited by knights, wealthty merchants and the odd inter married euro trash endowed the parish of Ash a grandeur it has not known since.
"Ash probably reached its social peak around then and has been going downhill ever since" says local historian David Downes, author of Ash an East Kent Village. The houses unique nature, says Mr Downes is due to both their proximity to Sandwich, and the way the land, originally owned by the church was divided into little sub-manors. "At that time, Sandwich was the premier port of England, through which virtually the country's entire wool exports were shipped and, likewise, continental goods were imported.
"But the port of Sandwich itself was dirty, crowded and disease ridden so the wealthy merchants and knightly families who grew rich from Sandwich's trade set up home in the fresh healthy air of Ash"
All the land around Ash was originally part of the huge Manor of Wingham owned by the archbishops of Canterbury since before the Battle of Hastings. At their discretion, subsequent archbishops gave smaller sub-manors to family and well connected friends in exchange for various establishment duties, including keeping a watch out for possible French invasions along the Sandwich coast.
There were 12 of these sub manors in and around Ash, most with just one manor house, some with two, on their land. They still survive in the names of roads and farms as well as the remaining houses: Weddington, Molland, Chequer, Wingham Barton, Goshall, Fleet, Hills Court, Twitham Hills, Levericks, Overland, Chilton, Uphousden, Knell, Hoaden, Paramour and Goldstone.
Historian Edward Hasted in his "The History and Topographical Survey of the County of Kent", published in 1778 writes of the Ash manor houses "Which being inhabited by families of reputation and good rank in life made this parish of much greater account than it has been for many years past"
At time of her death sho owned Hope House near Combe. In suit with John De Hougham over lands 30 dec 1286
Matilda and Benedicta de Hougham were co-heirs to Hougham Manor on account of lack of male heirs. Hugham.Robart de-l2 June I3l5.was born at Hugham. 2lst of Edward I-son of Sir Robert and lady Alicia de Hugham (iqouis)
Livery of lands 18 July I3l6(close Rolls) Lord of Boughton Monchensy Kent,5 Mar.l3l6.(Parliamentary Writs)
dead 6 June l3l7(Fine Rolls) Holding 2 m rental Weveringe by service of finding Kings Army of Wales a horse with sack and pin value 5/-to aid in bearing Kings scullery,also 2 thirds of Bocton Monchesy, Mororos 1 third knights fee
and of Hougham Manor 2 third fee.—His heirs were Warresius(lO)son of Helen daughter of his Aunt Beatrice Bourne and Benedicta 24 daughter of said Beatrice and wife of John Shelving" Note by M.H.Pratt.The Gleanings noted above and as given by Hasted and "A Forgotten Past" all differ so it is hard to conclude with FACTS from any of them. Compare Irelands History of Kent with it's own contents--Vol.II page 637,and vol II page 137 and Vol,3 p.lO
They differ in statements.
Hasted has Benedicta as being daughter of Robert the Fourth.