Robert de Mortimer

  Information about this person:

• Background Information. ¹⁴¹
Robert de Mortimer was son of Robert de Mortimer of Essex. It was either the father or the son after his father's death, the date of which is not known, who took part in the third Crusade, perhaps in personal attendance on Richard I. From 1200 onwards the son appears to have been frequently at court In 1203 he was excused scutage on Woodham and Amberden, probably in consideration of personal service; and in May 1206 had a grant of land in East Ham, Essex. From the time of his marriage (in 1210), by which he acquired the barony of Burford and Richard's Castle, he was active in the duties of a Lord Marcher, and in that year was in the King's service in Ireland.

In 1213 Robert made an offer to serve the King with 10 knights, of whom he himself should be one, if the King would acquit him of the fine for having his wife. The same year he was one of the commissioners to inquire in Herefordshire as to the losses sustained by the clergy owing to the King's quarrel with the Church. In 1214 and 1215 he was again abroad with the King, to whom he remained loyal throughout the differences with the barons. About this time he and his wife were in some way disturbed in possession of her inheritance. He was at Hereford with King John in July 1216. He took part in the Council called at Bristol within a month of that King's death, and was active in assisting the return of the "perverse" to their allegiance in the early days of Henry III.

The last order issued to Robert de Mortimer, of which there is record, was on 26 January 1218/9, when he was required to assist the sheriff of Hereford in taking the castles of Grosmont, &c., from Reynold de Braose. He was still living in Easter term 1219, when he pledged himself to discharge the scutage due on Richard's Castle.

Robert de Mortimer married, in 1210, Margaret, widow of Hugh de Ferrièrs,, and daughter and heir of Hugh de Say, by Mabel, daughter of Robert Marmion. Robert died before 5 Jul 1219. Very shortly afterwards Margaret married, 3^rdly, William de Stuteville. She appears to have died before the autumn of 1242. William de Stuteville died in or before May 1259, holding various lands in right of Margaret his late wife.

~ Cokayne's Complete Peerage, 2nd Edition, Vol. IX, 259-261

Robert married Margaret de Say, daughter of Hugh de Say and Mabel Marmion, in 1210.¹⁴¹ (Margaret de Say was born in Richard's Castle, Ludlow, Herefordshire, England and died Bef Autunm 1242 ¹⁴¹.)