Osbert Trussell

  Information about this person:

• Family Background. ⁷²³
Osbert Trussel, 1165, was the Lord of Billesley in Warwickshire, which he held of the earl of Warwick. According to Dugdale, "from this Osbert is it that the several families of Trussel, viz. Of Cublesdon and Acton-Trussell in Staffordshire; of Flore and Gayton in Northamptonshire; of Aylmesthorpe in Leicestershire; and of this and other places in Warwickshire are descended." Osbert's son, William, married Agnes, one of the three co-heiresses of Robert Fitz Otes of Locksley, whose inheritance was distributed to them in 1178. William was succeeded by Richard who joined the armed rebellion against King John in retinue of his suzerain the earl; and another Richard, slain at Evesham on the Barson's side. Because of this he lost Billesley and his other lands; but "William his brother went away with the estate," and married the heiress of Cublesdon in Staffordshire, Rose Pantulf. Their son and heir was Sir William who married Maud de Mainwaring.

~The Battle Abbey Roll, Vol. III p. 160

• Background Information. ⁷⁰⁸
Osbert Trussel in 1165, held a fief from the Earl of Warwick [Lib. Niger]. William Trussel, son of Osbert, was a benefactor to Sulby Abbey, Northants [Mon. ii. 630]; and Sir William Trussel was living c. 1300 [PPW]. He was summoned to Parliament by writ as a baron 1293, as was William Trussel in 1341.

~The Norman People, p. 417

• Background Information. ¹⁸⁸
Osbert Trussell held the manor in 1166 [Red Bk. of Exch. (Rolls Ser), 325] and the Trussell family remained in possession for more than 400 years[Rous, loc. cit., refers to it as Billesley Trussell]. Osbert's grandson Richard forfeited his lands for rebellion against King John, but recovered them soon afterwards [Dugd. 714 (quoting Close R. 18 John m. 5)] and William Trussell held one fee in Billesley in 1235 and 1242 [Bk. of Fees, 508, 958.]. Richard Trussell was lord of the manor in 1265 [Cal. Misc. Inq. i, 927], when he was killed fighting on the baronial side at Evesham, and the estates were again forfeited and again recovered [Dugd. 715], Richard's brother William being in possession in 1268. William, by his marriage with Rohese daughter and heir of William Pantolf of Cublesdon, acquired large estates in Staffordshire and other counties, and Billesley ceased to be the chief seat of the family.

~VCH: A History of the County of Warwick, Vol. III, pp. 58-61