Richard Reynell (knight) explained
Sir Richard Reynell (died before 1213) (alias Reinell,[1] Reynolds, etc), of Pitney (anciently Pyttney, Peteneya, eyc) in the county of Somerset, Sheriff of Devon in 1191-4,[2] was a knight who lived during the successive reigns of Kings Henry II (1154-1189), Richard I (1189-1199) and John (1199-1216).
Career
During the absence of King Richard I on crusade in the Holy Land, in 1191 he was given the custody of the royal fortresses of Exeter Castle in Devon and of Launceston Castle in Cornwall.[3] These castles he stoutly defended against John, Count of Mortain, the king's younger brother, who in the monarch's absence endeavoured to usurp the sovereign power.[4] He served as Sheriff of Devon from 1191-4.[5] Following the death of King Richard I in 1199, the throne was inherited by his younger brother King John (1199-1216), who remembered the opposition he had received from Richard Reynell and deprived him of his estates at Pitney.
Marriage and children
He was succeeded by his son:
- Sir Richard II Reynell of Pitney, whose lands were restored to him by King John in 1213, for services rendered.[6] Richard II's grandson was Walter Reynell, who married Maude de Trumpington, daughter and heiress of Everard de Trumpington of Trumpington in Cambridgeshire, and their son was John Reynell (d.1363/4)[7] of Trumpington, a Member of Parliament for Cambridgeshire in 1351/2, who in 1328 was granted by King Edward III freewarren in his lands in Warwickshire.[8] John Reynell's grandson was Walter Reynell who married Margaret Stighull, daughter and heiress of William Stighull of Malston[9] in the parish of Sherford and of East Ogwell in Devonshire.[10] His descendants settled at East Ogwell and at adjoining West Ogwell in Devon. A junior branch of the family became the Reynell Baronets of Laleham.
References
- Vivian, p.643
- Vivian, p.643
- Vivian, p.643
- Burke, John, Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Commoners of Great Britain and Ireland, Volume 4, London, 1838, p.446 https://books.google.com/books?id=KikAAAAAQAAJ&dq=Stighull&pg=PA447
- Vivian, p.643
- Vivian, p.643
- Vivian, p.643, regnal date 37 Edward III
- Vivian, p.643
- Vivian, p.643
- [John Prince (biographer)|Prince, John]