Roger fitzReinfrid
Encyclopedia
Roger fitzReinfrid was a medieval English sheriff
and royal justice.
Roger was the brother of Walter de Coutances
, who was Archbishop of Rouen
from 1184 to 1207. Another relative was John of Coutances
, who was either the brother of Walter and Roger, or their nephew. John went on to become Bishop of Worcester
from 1196 to 1198. Possibly another brother of Roger's was Odo of Coutances, a canon
at Rouen Cathedral
.
Roger and Walter's family was probably of knightly rank. In 1161, Roger paid scutage
on property in Dorset
, which was probably his inheritance. From 1168 to 1178, Roger was in the household of Richard de Lacy
. Later he served as a royal justice. Another patron of Roger's was Simon de Senlis, the Earl of Huntingdon
and Earl of Northampton
, who gave a soke
in London to Roger in July 1175. Roger was regularly employed by the king as a justice.
In 1173, Roger was granted custody of Windsor Castle
, and retained control of Windsor until 1193. In 1176, Roger was one of the 18 men named as justicias errantes, which were sent out in three panels of six men after the Assize of Northampton
in January 1176. King Henry II of England
named Roger as Sheriff of Sussex
in 1176, which office he retained until 1187. Roger was also Sheriff of Berkshire from 1186 until the death of King Henry II in 1189.
After the death of King Henry, Roger's brother Walter was put in charge of England while Henry's son Richard I
was away on Crusade from 1191 to 1193. Roger profited from his brother's rise to power by receiving custody of Wallingford Castle
, the Tower of London
, and Bristol Castle
.
Roger granted land to Launceston Priory
for his and his wife's souls. He also held land at Ramsden Bellhouse
, half a knight's fee, which he was granted by Gilbert Foliot
, Bishop of London
. The church on this land was later granted to Lesnes Abbey
by Roger.
Roger's son Gilbert fitzReinfrey became a royal administrator. It appears, however, that Gilbert was illegitimate, as he did not inherit his father's lands. Another son was William, who became a canon of Lincoln Cathedral
, and was named Archdeacon of Rouen by Walter de Coutances. Roger died in 1196. Roger's wife was named Alice. His wife and mother were to be buried at St Mary Clerkenwell
.
Sheriff
A sheriff is in principle a legal official with responsibility for a county. In practice, the specific combination of legal, political, and ceremonial duties of a sheriff varies greatly from country to country....
and royal justice.
Roger was the brother of Walter de Coutances
Walter de Coutances
Walter de Coutances was a medieval English Bishop of Lincoln and Archbishop of Rouen. He began his royal service in the government of Henry II, serving as a vice-chancellor...
, who was Archbishop of Rouen
Archbishop of Rouen
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Rouen is an Archdiocese of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church in France. As one of the fifteen Archbishops of France, the ecclesiastical province of the archdiocese comprises the majority of Normandy....
from 1184 to 1207. Another relative was John of Coutances
John of Coutances
-Life:He was a nephew of Walter of Coutances, Bishop of Lincoln and was treasurer of the diocese of Lisieux before his uncle appointed him Archdeacon of Oxford sometime before December of 1184. He also was dean of Rouen, and retained the treasurership of Lisieux while archdeacon.He was elected in...
, who was either the brother of Walter and Roger, or their nephew. John went on to become Bishop of Worcester
Bishop of Worcester
The Bishop of Worcester is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Worcester in the Province of Canterbury, England. He is the head of the Diocese of Worcester in the Province of Canterbury...
from 1196 to 1198. Possibly another brother of Roger's was Odo of Coutances, a canon
Canon (priest)
A canon is a priest or minister who is a member of certain bodies of the Christian clergy subject to an ecclesiastical rule ....
at Rouen Cathedral
Rouen Cathedral
Rouen Cathedral is a Roman Catholic Gothic cathedral in Rouen, in northwestern France. It is the seat of the Archbishop of Rouen and Normandy.-History:...
.
Roger and Walter's family was probably of knightly rank. In 1161, Roger paid scutage
Scutage
The form of taxation known as scutage, in the law of England under the feudal system, allowed a knight to "buy out" of the military service due to the Crown as a holder of a knight's fee held under the feudal land tenure of knight-service. Its name derived from shield...
on property in Dorset
Dorset
Dorset , is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast. The county town is Dorchester which is situated in the south. The Hampshire towns of Bournemouth and Christchurch joined the county with the reorganisation of local government in 1974...
, which was probably his inheritance. From 1168 to 1178, Roger was in the household of Richard de Lacy
Richard de Luci
Richard de Luci was first noted as Sheriff of the County of Essex, then he was made Chief Justiciar of England.- Biography :His wife Rohese, who is named in several documents, was a sister of Faramus of Boulogne...
. Later he served as a royal justice. Another patron of Roger's was Simon de Senlis, the Earl of Huntingdon
Earl of Huntingdon
Earl of Huntingdon is a title which has been created several times in the Peerage of England. The title is associated with the ruling house of Scotland, and latterly with the Hastings family.-Early history:...
and Earl of Northampton
Earl of Northampton
Earl of Northampton is a title that has been created five times.-Earls in for the Honour of Huntingdon, first Creation :*Waltheof *Maud, Countess of Huntingdon** m. Simon I de Senlis** m...
, who gave a soke
Soke (legal)
The term soke ), at the time of the Norman Conquest of England generally denoted "jurisdiction", but due to vague usage probably lacks a single precise definition....
in London to Roger in July 1175. Roger was regularly employed by the king as a justice.
In 1173, Roger was granted custody of Windsor Castle
Windsor Castle
Windsor Castle is a medieval castle and royal residence in Windsor in the English county of Berkshire, notable for its long association with the British royal family and its architecture. The original castle was built after the Norman invasion by William the Conqueror. Since the time of Henry I it...
, and retained control of Windsor until 1193. In 1176, Roger was one of the 18 men named as justicias errantes, which were sent out in three panels of six men after the Assize of Northampton
Assize of Northampton
The Assize of Northampton, largely based on the Assize of Clarendon of 1166, is among a series of measures taken by King Henry II of England that solidified the rights of the knightly tenants and made all possession of land subject to and guaranteed by royal law.The assize is believed to have been...
in January 1176. King Henry II of England
Henry II of England
Henry II ruled as King of England , Count of Anjou, Count of Maine, Duke of Normandy, Duke of Aquitaine, Duke of Gascony, Count of Nantes, Lord of Ireland and, at various times, controlled parts of Wales, Scotland and western France. Henry, the great-grandson of William the Conqueror, was the...
named Roger as Sheriff of Sussex
High Sheriff of Sussex
-History:The office of High Sheriff is over 1000 years old, with its establishment before the Norman Conquest. The Office of High Sheriff remained first in precedence in the counties until the reign of Edward VII when an Order in Council in 1908 gave the Lord-Lieutenant the prime office under the...
in 1176, which office he retained until 1187. Roger was also Sheriff of Berkshire from 1186 until the death of King Henry II in 1189.
After the death of King Henry, Roger's brother Walter was put in charge of England while Henry's son Richard I
Richard I of England
Richard I was King of England from 6 July 1189 until his death. He also ruled as Duke of Normandy, Duke of Aquitaine, Duke of Gascony, Lord of Cyprus, Count of Anjou, Count of Maine, Count of Nantes, and Overlord of Brittany at various times during the same period...
was away on Crusade from 1191 to 1193. Roger profited from his brother's rise to power by receiving custody of Wallingford Castle
Wallingford Castle
Wallingford Castle was a major medieval castle situated in Wallingford in the English county of Oxfordshire , adjacent to the River Thames...
, the Tower of London
Tower of London
Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress, more commonly known as the Tower of London, is a historic castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central London, England. It lies within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, separated from the eastern edge of the City of London by the open space...
, and Bristol Castle
Bristol Castle
Bristol Castle was a Norman castle built for the defence of Bristol. Remains can be seen today in Castle Park near the Broadmead Shopping Centre, including the sally port.-History:...
.
Roger granted land to Launceston Priory
Launceston Priory
-References:...
for his and his wife's souls. He also held land at Ramsden Bellhouse
Ramsden Bellhouse
Ramsden Bellhouse is a village in Essex, England. The village is in the district of Basildon and in the parliamentary constituency of Billericay.The River Crouch flows through Ramsden Bellhouse, flowing under Church Road....
, half a knight's fee, which he was granted by Gilbert Foliot
Gilbert Foliot
Gilbert Foliot was a medieval English monk and prelate, successively Abbot of Gloucester, Bishop of Hereford and Bishop of London. Born to an ecclesiastical family, he became a monk at Cluny Abbey in France at about the age of twenty...
, Bishop of London
Bishop of London
The Bishop of London is the ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of London in the Province of Canterbury.The diocese covers 458 km² of 17 boroughs of Greater London north of the River Thames and a small part of the County of Surrey...
. The church on this land was later granted to Lesnes Abbey
Lesnes Abbey
Lesnes Abbey is a former abbey, now ruined, in Abbey Wood, in the London Borough of Bexley. It is a scheduled ancient monument and the adjacent park and heath are a Site of Special Scientific Interest...
by Roger.
Roger's son Gilbert fitzReinfrey became a royal administrator. It appears, however, that Gilbert was illegitimate, as he did not inherit his father's lands. Another son was William, who became a canon of Lincoln Cathedral
Lincoln Cathedral
Lincoln Cathedral is a historic Anglican cathedral in Lincoln in England and seat of the Bishop of Lincoln in the Church of England. It was reputedly the tallest building in the world for 249 years . The central spire collapsed in 1549 and was not rebuilt...
, and was named Archdeacon of Rouen by Walter de Coutances. Roger died in 1196. Roger's wife was named Alice. His wife and mother were to be buried at St Mary Clerkenwell
Clerkenwell
Clerkenwell is an area of central London in the London Borough of Islington. From 1900 to 1965 it was part of the Metropolitan Borough of Finsbury. The well after which it was named was rediscovered in 1924. The watchmaking and watch repairing trades were once of great importance...
.