Samson, Bishop of Worcester
Encyclopedia
Samson was a medieval English clergyman.
and Treasurer of the diocese of Bayeux.
In the Domesday Book
he is referred to as the chaplain and is recorded as holding St. Peter's Collegiate Church, Wolverhampton
and considerable properties in southern Staffordshire
, most of which he sublet to either the canons of St. Peter's or to other clergy.
In 1096 he was elected Bishop of Worcester
, he was ordained a deacon
and priest
on 7 June 1096 and consecrated bishop
on 8 June 1096. Being a Bishop did not prevent him from fathering at least one child, a daughter, Isabelle of Douvres, known for her later laison with Robert, 1st Earl of Gloucester
. The son of Robert and Isabelle was Richard who was Bishop of Bayeux from 1135 to 1142. Samson had two sons who also became bishops. Richard was Bishop of Bayeux from 1108 to 1133, and Thomas
was Archbishop of York
from 1108 to 1114.
He has been suggested as possibly the scribe who oversaw the compilation of Domesday Book
by the historian V. H. Galbraith
.
He died on 5 May 1112.
Life
Samson was a Royal Chaplain and a canonCanon (priest)
A canon is a priest or minister who is a member of certain bodies of the Christian clergy subject to an ecclesiastical rule ....
and Treasurer of the diocese of Bayeux.
In the Domesday Book
Domesday Book
Domesday Book , now held at The National Archives, Kew, Richmond upon Thames in South West London, is the record of the great survey of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086...
he is referred to as the chaplain and is recorded as holding St. Peter's Collegiate Church, Wolverhampton
St. Peter's Collegiate Church, Wolverhampton
St. Peter's Collegiate Church is located on the highest and the oldest developed site in central Wolverhampton, England. For many centuries it was a chapel royal, and from 1480 a royal peculiar, independent of the Diocese of Lichfield and even the Province of Canterbury. The collegiate church was...
and considerable properties in southern Staffordshire
Staffordshire
Staffordshire is a landlocked county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. Part of the National Forest lies within its borders...
, most of which he sublet to either the canons of St. Peter's or to other clergy.
In 1096 he was elected 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...
, he was ordained a deacon
Deacon
Deacon is a ministry in the Christian Church that is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions...
and priest
Priesthood (Catholic Church)
The ministerial orders of the Catholic Church include the orders of bishops, deacons and presbyters, which in Latin is sacerdos. The ordained priesthood and common priesthood are different in function and essence....
on 7 June 1096 and consecrated bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
on 8 June 1096. Being a Bishop did not prevent him from fathering at least one child, a daughter, Isabelle of Douvres, known for her later laison with Robert, 1st Earl of Gloucester
Robert, 1st Earl of Gloucester
Robert Fitzroy, 1st Earl of Gloucester was an illegitimate son of King Henry I of England. He was called "Rufus" and occasionally "de Caen", he is also known as Robert "the Consul"...
. The son of Robert and Isabelle was Richard who was Bishop of Bayeux from 1135 to 1142. Samson had two sons who also became bishops. Richard was Bishop of Bayeux from 1108 to 1133, and Thomas
Thomas II of York
Thomas was a medieval archbishop of York. To distinguish him from his uncle, also a Thomas who was archbishop of York, Thomas is usually known as Thomas II or Thomas the Younger.-Life:...
was Archbishop of York
Archbishop of York
The Archbishop of York is a high-ranking cleric in the Church of England, second only to the Archbishop of Canterbury. He is the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of York and metropolitan of the Province of York, which covers the northern portion of England as well as the Isle of Man...
from 1108 to 1114.
He has been suggested as possibly the scribe who oversaw the compilation of Domesday Book
Domesday Book
Domesday Book , now held at The National Archives, Kew, Richmond upon Thames in South West London, is the record of the great survey of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086...
by the historian V. H. Galbraith
Vivian Hunter Galbraith
Vivian Hunter H. Galbraith, FBA was an English historian, Fellow of the British Academy and Oxford Regius Professor of Modern History.- Early career:...
.
He died on 5 May 1112.