Guncelin Badlesmere Explained

Guncelin Badlesmere
Noble Family:Badlesmere
Father:Bartholomew Badlesmere
Birth Date:before 1243
Death Date:1301

Sir Guncelin Badlesmere (died 1301), also written as Gunselm, was an English judge and administrator from Kent.[1] [2] [3]

Origins

From a family of minor gentry in the village of Badlesmere, who had served as knights and judges, he was born before 1243 as the son of Batholomew Badlesmere.[3]

Career

Attached to the royal household as a knight banneret,[1] in 1274 he replaced Reginald Grey as Justice of Chester[2] [1] on an annual salary of 67 pounds. To this responsibility was added in 1278 the custody of Flint Castle and Rhuddlan Castle, plus another 67 pounds a year. He remained justice of Chester until 1281, when Grey was reappointed.[1] In 1285 and in 1297 he is recorded as serving overseas and in 1297 he was one of the witnesses to the ceremony in Tonbridge Castle at which John Langton was invested with the royal seal as Lord Chancellor.

He died shortly before 13 April 1301,[1] and was reportedly buried in Badlesmere church, where a wooden cross-legged effigy was erected.[3]

Family

The name of his wife is in fact unknown,[1] though older accounts used to name her as Margaret or Joan FitzBernard,[2] and sources mention three children:

Notes and References

  1. Book: Badlesmere, Sir Bartholomew (c. 1275–1322). J. R. Maddicott. Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. 5 January 2006. 3 September 2023.
  2. Book: The Complete Peerage. 2 . 371-2. 2. Vicary Gibbs. London. 1910.
  3. Book: Edward Hasted. 'Parishes: Badlesmere'. The History and Topographical Survey of the County of Kent. 6. Canterbury. 1798. 467-481. 3 September 2023.
  4. Book: The Complete Peerage. 2. 425. 2. Vicary Gibbs. London. 1910.
  5. Book: Northwood, John, first Lord Northwood (1254–1319). C. L. Kingsford. Andrew Ayton. Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. 10 September 2023. 23 September 2004.