William de Percy

  Noted events in his life were:

• Web Reference: Charles Cawley's Midieval Lands, Willliam de Percy.

• Background Information. ¹⁴¹
William de Percy whose parentage in unknown, is stated to have accompanied Hugh d'Avranches, afterwards Earl of Chester, from Normandy to England. In 1070, he was engaged on works connecting with the rebuilding of York Castle after its destruction by the Danes; and in 1072, he took part in the Conqueror's expedition of Scotland. At the Domesday Survey he was a tenant-in-chief in the three ridings of Yorkshire, in Lindsey, with a smallholding in Notts, and of Hambledon, Hants, which he received with his wife; he was also under-tenant of the Earl of Chester in Whitby and its soke, in Catto, E.R., and the city of York, and of the Bishop of Durham in Scoroborough and Lund, E.R. He built a castle at Topcliff; and not later than 1086, he refounded the monastery at Whitby. He was among the Barons present when the Conqueror heard a plea relating to property of the Abbey of Fécamp, circa 1086 aned he witnessed charters of William II in the period 1091-95. In 1096, he set out on the first Crusade and he died and was buried at Mount Joy, near Jerusalem.

William de Percy married Emma de Port, who brought Hambledon, Hants, in marriage and who gave a mansura in Ousegate, York and a Carucate in Isleham and another in Snailwells, Cambs, to Whitby Abbey. Emma was related to Hugh de Port of Basing, the ancestor in the male line of the family of St. John. Hambledon descended in the Percy family; and it is significant that in 1242/3, William de Percy had 3 tenants there who held of him a knight's fee of old feoffment, and he of Robert de St. John, who held in chief. Moreover, in 1086, Hugh de Port had an interest in Isleham and Snailwell where Emma's interest was undoubtedly a further portion of her maritagium.

~Cokayne's Complete Peerage, 2^nd Edition, Vol. X, pp. 435-438

Hugh de Port had a daughter, whom as Adelisis soror Henrici de Port, the Liber Winton of 1107-1115, shows as holding a house in Winchester. Emma de Percy also had a house there. Emma was the wife of William de Percy, and either a dughter or a near relation of Hugh.

~Cokayne's Complete Peerage, 2^nd Edition, Vol. XI, pp. 317-318

William married Emma de Port, daughter of Hughes de Port and Orence.¹⁴¹