William Fitz Aer

  Information about this person:

• Background Information. ^183,1076
William Fitz Aer was the heir to his brother, Robert Fitz Aer III who died without issue between 1221 and 1231. William Fitz Aer, before Michaelmas 1231, stood pledge for Walter de Upton as to an amercement of the latter by the Justices of the forest. In 1235, William was one of four Knights who visited all the King's forest in Shropshire, and made return as to their condition in obedience to a Royal Writ, dated 19 Oct 1235. In October 1237, William is the second Juror named of those who met the King at Worcester, to try a great and protracted suit between Giles de Erdington and Henry de Audley. In about 1240, his tenure of 1 Knight's fee in Eston, is entered on the list of Fitz Alan's Barony. Sometime previous to 1234, he resigned all right of patronage in the Chapel of Eston, by a formal deed to Salop Abbey. His act was certified by Henry Bishop of Herefor, calling him "The Knight William Fitz Aer, Lord of Eston."

William Fitz Aer was dead on 18 Aug 1245, on which day "Philip le Bret gave 20 merks to the King to have custody of two parts of his land in Eston and Hauerkecot (Harcott). till the lawful age of said William's heir. And he (Philip) was to pay yearly for the said parts, that which they were valued at, viz. £10. 9s. 3½d., whereof £1. was to be paid to the Abbey of Hagheman, as the said William annually paid it in his time, and the balance to the King's Exchequer." Since this fine was for only two-thirds of William Fitz Aer's estate, it is indicated that his widow was still alive and she had continued tenure of the remaining third in dower.

~Robert William Eyton, Antiquities of Shropshire, Vol. I, pp. 203-204, Vol. IX, p. 312

William married Margery de Harcott.¹⁸³ (Margery de Harcott died after 1272 in Shropshire, England ¹⁸³.)