Gervaise de Cornhill

   Another name for Gervaise was Gervase Fitz Roger.

  Information about this person:

• Background Information. ⁷⁹²
Gervase de Cornhill was so called from the ward of that name in London, where he most likely resided. He was clearly a man of high note and authority there, holding 2, 3, 6, and 7 Henry II the post of sheriff [Madox, i, 204, 602], an officer in whom the temporal government of the city was then vested. After the latter year, he is not noticed in connection with the metropolis; but his next residence being in Surrey. He was appointed sheriff of that county in 10 Henry II, 1164, and remained in that office, with the exception of one year, until 1183.

In 15 Henry II, and for the seven succeeding years, Gervarse de Cornhill held the same responsible office in Kent, where he had a set at Likedale, in the parish of Littleborne; and in the contest with Becket, he sided strongly with the king.

Among the justifces itinerant in 15, 16, 20 and 28 Henry II, 1169-1177, Gervarse de Cornhill's name appears as acting in various counties. It does not clearly appear whether at that time he performed the same duties in the Curia Regis, but it is certain that he attended there in 28 Henry II, 1182, as his name is inserted as one of the barons and justiciers before whom fines of that year were take. [Madox, i. 113, 123, 132, 143, 144]

From the termination of his sheriffalty in Surrey, it may be presumed that Gervaise's death occurred in 29 or 30 Henry II. He left three sons, Henry, Reginald and Ralph, the former of whom held the office of sheriff of Kent for several years. Henry was bailiff of London, and also sheriff of Surrey. Henry was chancellor of St. Paul's, and had the management of the Mint [Cambium] of England in 3 Richard I. Reginald was the next named justice itinerant [Hasted, i. 178; Lord Lyttelton's Henry II, 583].

~Biographi Juridica, p. 192

• Background Information. ²⁴⁵
Land in Gamlingay that was granted to "Gervase, Justiciary of London," was later entered in a survey during the reign of John as held by "the heirs of Gervase de Cornhill." Similarily, the land mortgaged in the former transaction to "Gervase, Justiciary of London," is later found in possession of Henry, son and heir of Gervase de Cornhill. This is how Gervase de Cornhill, father of Henry de Cornhill can be shown also to be the Gervase, Justicary of London. [Duchy of Lancaster: royal Charters, no. 22]

Gervase also shows up in records as Gervase Fitz Roger or "Gervasius fillus Rogeri," and his father, Roger, is written as "Rogeri nepotis Huberti." [Rot. Pip., 32 Hen. I, pp. 144, 145, 147-149] Gervase Fitz Roger was excused in the Pipe-Roll of 1130 of the payment of two shillings in Middlesex for 1127/28 and seven shillings for 1128/29 because his land is "waste." [Rot. Pip., 31 Hen. I, pp. 150, 151] We can connect this Gervase Fitz Roger with Gervase de Cornhill because the manor of Chalk was granted by the Crown to Roger "nepos Huberti" and subsequently granted to Gervase de Cornhill.

The adoption by Gervase of the surname "de Cornhill" can be accounted for because among the records of the duchy of Lancaster is a grant by William, Archbishop of Canterbury (1123-1136), of land at "Eadintune to Gervase and Agnes his wife, Agnes being described as daughter of "Godeleve." By aid of another document relating to the same property, "Godeleve" is called the wife of Edward de Cornhill. This Edward de Cornhill was the son-in-law of "Edward of Southwark."

~Geoffrey de Mandeville: A Study of the Anarchy, (Appendix K.) Gervase de Cornhill, pp. 304-307

Gervaise married Agnes de Cornhill, daughter of Edward de Cornhill and Godeleve of Southwork.