Commentary on various fiefs

Some notes on various fiefs

LIST OF ATTESTED FIEFS IN GUERNSEY

• Fief à Eperon
• Fief à l'Ecachier
• Fief au Breton
• Fief au Cannely
• Fief au Carpentier
• Fief au Chevalier
• Fief au Coq - the Fief Au Coq derives from sales to the Le Cocq family (From Fauschin) in the 16th or 17th century.
• Fief au Crochon
• Fief au Fay -dating back to the 11th and 12th centuries are the Fief Mauxmarquis (named after the Malmarchy family), the Fief Au Fay (named after a Norman family from D’Auffai, a town between Rouen and Dieppe) and the Fief Burons.
• Fief au Gouie
• Fief au Legat
• Fief au Marchant
• Fief au Mauvoisin
• Fief au Mière
• Fief au Rouger
• Fief au Roux - developments on the half of the sub-fief Suart retained by the Crown when the other half was given to the Revel family led to the emergence of the Fief de Gohiers, the Fief de la Bouvée Marquand,the Fief Dieu le Voye, the Fief Au Roux, and the Fief de la Pomare.
• Fief au Saunier
• Fief au Soutard
• Fief au Soutard (Sottevast - Sotuast) - Apparently split from fief Le Comte and given to a cadet branch of the Magneville (Mandeville) family from Sottevast.
• Fief Avallet
• Fief Baard
• Fief d'Amelaine
• Fief d'Anneville - oldest fief in Guernsey
• Fief de Beauvoir
• Fief de Beguepès
• Fief de Bertram
• Fief de Beuval
• Fief de Blanchelande - now
• Fief de Bournel
• Fief de Canteraine
• Fief de Capis
• Fief de Carteret - on the main Fief Le Comte yet more agricultural development led to the emergence of sub-fiefs bearing placenames (e.g., Fief Groignet, Fief Carteret), and others with the names of the holders (e.g., Fief Granté, Fief de la Court, Fief Videclin).
• Fief de Covin
• Fief de Dame Allinor
• Fief de Dieu le Voye - developments on the half of the sub-fief Suart retained by the Crown when the other half was given to the Revel family led to the emergence of the Fief de Gohiers, the Fief de la Bouvée Marquand,the Fief Dieu le Voye, the Fief Au Roux, and the Fief de la Pomare.
• Fief de Dom Jean Le Moigne, alias Prêtre de Castel
• Fief de Durant
• Fief de Fauville
• Fief de Gohiers - developments on the half of the sub-fief Suart retained by the Crown when the other half was given to the Revel family led to the emergence of the Fief de Gohiers, the Fief de la Bouvée Marquand,the Fief Dieu le Voye, the Fief Au Roux, and the Fief de la Pomare.
• Fief de Guillot Justice
• Fief de Haillart
• Fief de Henri de Castel
• Fief de Henri de Vaugrat
• Fief de Herne
• Fief de Janin Besnard
• Fief de Jean de Nermont
• Fief de Jean Galliard - land disposals by the Abbots of Mont St Michel before seizure by the Crown account for sub-fiefs contiguous to the present Fief St Michel, notably the Fief Saumarez and the Fief Jean du Galliard.
• Fief de la Bellengère
• Fief de la Boisselée de Henri de Variouf
• Fief de la Bouvée du Groïn
• Fief de la Bouvée Duquemin
• Fief de la Bouvée Marquand - developments on the half of the sub-fief Suart retained by the Crown when the other half was given to the Revel family led to the emergence of the Fief de Gohiers, the Fief de la Bouvée Marquand,the Fief Dieu le Voye, the Fief Au Roux, and the Fief de la Pomare.
• Fief de la Cannevière
• Fief de la Chapelle de Saint Georges - the Fief de St Georges was created by the sale of this area as a sub-fief by George Fashion in 1629. Read more
• Fief de la Corvée è Corbinets
• Fief de la Cour / Court - on the main Fief Le Comte yet more agricultural development led to the emergence of sub-fiefs bearing placenames (e.g., Fief Groignet, Fief Carteret), and others with the names of the holders (e.g., Fief Granté, Fief de la Court, Fief Videclin).
• Fief de la Cour Ricart
• Fief de la Couture ( dependancy of fief Saint Michel)
• Fief de la Croûte Bouilleuse (dependan cy of Anneville)
• Fief de la Fantôme
• Fief de la Haule
• Fief de la Landelle
• Fief de la Pomare - developments on the half of the sub-fief Suart retained by the Crown when the other half was given to the Revel family led to the emergence of the Fief de Gohiers, the Fief de la Bouvée Marquand,the Fief Dieu le Voye, the Fief Au Roux, and the Fief de la Pomare.
• Fief de la Rivière
• Fief de la Rue Frairie
• Fief de la Velleresse
• Fief de la Vingt-unième Boisselée
• Fief de l'Abbé du Mont St Michel (Crown fief)
• Fief de l'Abbesse de la Trinité, Caen (Crown fief)
• Fief de l'Ecahier
• Fief de l'Evêque de Coutances (Crown fief)
• Fief de Levin
• Fief de Longue - given to the Wake family in 12 th century (who held land at Longues, near Bayeux)
• Fief de Massy Gros
• Fief de Mautalent ou Maltalent (fief of a vassal of Anneville - Mautalent)
• Fief de Moullinets
• Fief de Nermont
• Fief de Pierre Philippe
• Fief de Richard de la Folie
• Fief de Richard de Nermont
• Fief de Richard des Camps
• Fief de Richard Gosselin
• Fief de Robert de Verre
• Fief de Robert de Vicq
• Fief de Rougier le Villain
• Fief de Rozel - apparently sp lit from fief Le Comte, went to the Rozel family
• Fief de Saumarez - land disposals by the Abbots of Mont St Michel before seizure by the Crown account for sub-fiefs contiguous to the present Fief St Michel, notably the Fief Saumarez and the Fief Jean du Galliard.
• Fief de St Hélène
• Fief de Suart - apparently split from Fief Le Comte - went to the Suhart family,
• Fief Blondel - has a website : Fief de Thomas Blondel
• Fief des Arguilliers
• Fief des Beguepès
• Fief des Besognes
• Fief des Bruniaux
• Fief des Bruniaux de Noirmont
• Fief des Burons - in the same Parish dati ng back to the 11th and 12th centuries are the Fief Mauxmarquis (named after the Malmarchy family), the Fief Au Fay (named after a Norman family from D’Auffai, a town between Rouen and Dieppe) and the Fief Burons. The Fief Au Fay was held by payment of a pair of silver spurs and the Fief. Burons by payment of a pair of gilded spurs. During the 16th century these two fiefs were combined as the Fief des Eperons, held on payment of a pair of silver- gilt spurs.
• Fief des Coltons
• Fief des Corvées
• Fief des Dix Quartiers Blondel
• Fief des Effards
• Fief des Eperons - It derives from the sum of Fief au Fay and Fief Burons (in the same parish). The Fief Au Fay was held by payment of a pair of silver spurs and the Fief Burons by payment of a pair of gilded spurs. During the 16th century these two fiefs were combined as the Fief des Eperons, held on payment of a pair of silver- gilt spurs.
• Fief des Feuvres
• Fief des Forgiers
• Fief des Fortés
• Fief des Fouqués
• Fief des Gervaises
• Fief des Grangiers
• Fief des Grantés - on the main Fief Le Comte more agricultural development led to the emergence of sub-fiefs bearing placenames (e.g., Fief Groignet, Fief Carteret), and others with the names of the holders (e.g., Fief Granté, Fief de la Court, Fief Videclin )
• Fief des Hasios
• Fief des Huit Bouvées - dependancy of Mont Saint Michel
• Fief des Mauconvenants - the development of wasteland on the borders of the Fief Longue led to the emergence of three further sub-fiefs—the Fief des Mauconvenants, the Fief d’Illaire, and the Fief des Trois Vattiaux.
• Fief des Mauxmarquis - dating back to the 11th and 12th centuries in the same parish are the Fief Mauxmarquis (named after the Malmarchy family), the Fief Au Fay (named after a Norman family from D’Auffai, a town between Rouen and Dieppe) and the Fief Burons.
• Fief des Philippes
• Fief des Queues
• Fief des Reveaux
• Fief des Rohais - in St Andrew’s the wasteland in the north of the parish became Fief Le Roi on enfeoffment and from it the Fief Rohais was carved out in favour of Rohesia, the wife of Eudes, who was Vicomte of the Cotentin between 1092 and 1104.
• Fief des Rompeurs
• Fief des Trois Bouvées de l'Erée
• Fief des Trois Vattiaux - the development of wasteland on the borders of the Fief Longue led to the emergence of three further sub-fiefs—the Fief des Mauconvenants, the Fief d’Illaire, and the Fief des Trois Vattiaux.
• Fief des Videclins - on the main Fief Le Comte more agricultural development led to the emergence of sub-fiefs bearing placenames (e.g., Fief Groignet, Fief Carteret), and others with the names of the holders (e.g., Fief Granté, Fief de la Court, Fief Videclin).
• Fief d'Hillaire - Illaire - the development of wasteland on the borders of the Fief Longue led to the emergence of three further sub-fiefs—the Fief des Mauconvenants, the Fief d’Illaire, and the Fief des Trois Vattiaux.
• Fief du Camp de la Folie
• Fief du Camp des Haies
• Fief du Clercq de l'Erée
• Fief du Cohu
• Fief du Colin
• Fief du Domaine de Dom Hue
• Fief du Groignet - on the main Fief Le Comte yet more agricultural development led to the emergence of sub-fiefs bearing placenames (e.g., Fief Groignet, Fief Carteret), and others with the names of the holders (e.g., Fief Granté, Fief de la Court, Fief Videclin).
• Fief du Naunage
• Fief du Pleinmont appelé Les Quarante Quartiers
• Fief du Prieur de Lihou
• Fief du Quartier de Camp Roux
• Fief du Quartier des Goubais
• Fief du Vavasseur
• Fief ès Cherfs
• Fief ès Cobois
• Fief ès Pellais
• Fief ès Prestres
• Fief ès Riollais
• Fief Fortescue
• Fief Gorges
• Fief Huchon
• Fief La Veilleresse
• Fief Le Roi - fief of the crown
• Fief Lemminge
• Fief Lesant
• Fief Lucas Arnault
• Forfaiture du Moulin-à-Vent
• Franc Fief au Gallicien
• Franc Fief de la Rosière
• Franc Fief de St Martin
• 15 Bouvées Franches
• 15 Bouvées Villaines
• Bordage Allez
• Bordage Beaucamp
• Bordage de Jourdain David
• Bordage de l'Erée
• Bordage de Pierre Belle
• Bordage Nord-Est compact
• Bouvée et demie des Cambiés
• Chef Bordage
• La Bouvée de Giffrey de Becqueville
• La Prise des Mielles
• Le Boissel du Clos Drouin
• Le Clos au Colombier
• Les Salines
• Les Treize Vergées d'Allebec
• Neuf Clos de la Roque Poisson
• Fief le Comte|Onze Bouvées du Fief le Comte - see below
• Fief le Comte|Onze Bouvées Nord Est du Fief le Comte - see below
• Vavasseury Piquemie de St Michel
• Fief le Comte|Vingt Bouvées du Villain Fief Le Comte - Fief Le Comte, named after Ranulf I’s creation as Earl of Chester in 1120, originally comprised twenty “villein” bouvées covering much of Castel, St Saviour’s and St Pierre-du-Bois. When the earls’ Bessin estates were forfeited during the Anarchy, Geoffrey of Anjou (effective ruler of the islands after 1144) redistributed large blocks of land; (note: the micro-fief Mautalent—within former Bessin ground yet listed as a vassal of Anneville—can only date from this mid-12th-century re-allocation). By c. 1150 the earls of Chester had lost direct control of Le Comte, which was further fragmented when a western share passed to the Wake family, confirmed by Hugh Wake’s gift of Le Fief de Longues to his Norman abbey in 1168 (Ewen 1961). Most probably the overlordship had reverted to Mont Saint Michel in duality with Anneville (the Annevillewere faithful to MAtilda during the Anarchy). A charter of 22 April 1253 shows the following hierarchy: Abbot Richard of Mont-Saint-Michel granted Sir William de Chesney, seigneur of Anneville, the garde noble (wardship) of “all the land in Guernsey that had belonged to Robert de Vere” (i.e. the whole of Le Comte) during the heir’s minority, for a quit-rent of £25 payable before the king’s justices at Exeter (“laisse la garde de toute la terre…”, Cartulaire no. 130; MacGibbon 1896, 202-03). Under Norman custom only the overlord (chef seigneur) could grant such wardship, so the deed places Mont-Saint-Michel as titular overlord while acknowledging Anneville’s day-to-day administration. Le Comte never acquired its own manor-house and was never summoned to the Royal Chief Pleas—facts later cited by Anneville’s seigneurs as proof that the fief remained subordinate to Anneville rather than directly to the Crown (Duncan 1841). A further proof is the act of partage of William de Cheney (1350) drawn up “à Anneville devant la Cour Royale” that lists each sub-fief separately and stipulates that, failing heirs, the reversion returns to “Sire Edmond d’Anneville”, confirming Anneville as ultimate overlord. Although Mont-Saint-Michel never exercised daily control, the abbey maintained its claim while Anneville retained practical dominance, a duality echoed in later litigation. After King John lost Normandy in 1204 the abbey’s suzerainty waned after a litigation; Anneville’s overlordship persisted and in 1248 Henry III re-granted the forfeited Anneville estate—including any residual rights over Le Comte—to William de Chesney (Calendar of Patent Rolls 1247-48). The arrangement endured into the early-modern era and was successfully invoked in the Andros Appeal of 1660-61, when Anneville’s heirs reclaimed Pomare, La Cour and Longues from Le Comte’s holder (MS appeal, Royal Court of Guernsey). Fief Le Comte, named after Ranulf I’s creation as Earl of Chester in 1120, originally comprised twenty “villein” bouvées covering much of Castel, St Saviour’s and St Pierre-du-Bois. When the earls’ Bessin estates were forfeited during the Anarchy, Geoffrey of Anjou (effective ruler of the islands after 1144) redistributed large blocks of land; the micro-fief Mautalent—within former Bessin ground yet listed as a vassal of Anneville—can only date from this mid-12th-century re-allocation (Ewen 1961). By c. 1150 the earls of Chester had lost direct control of Le Comte, which was further fragmented when a western share passed to the Wake family, confirmed by Hugh Wake’s gift of Le Fief de Longues to his Norman abbey in 1168 (Ewen 1961). A charter of 22 April 1253 shows the resulting hierarchy: Abbot Richard of Mont-Saint-Michel granted Sir William de Chesney, seigneur of Anneville, the garde noble (wardship) of “all the land in Guernsey that had belonged to Robert de Vere” (i.e. the whole of Le Comte) during the heir’s minority, for a quit-rent of £25 payable before the king’s justices at Exeter (“laisse la garde de toute la terre…”, Cartulaire no. 130; MacGibbon 1896, 202-03). Under Norman custom only the overlord (chef seigneur) could grant such wardship, so the deed places Mont-Saint-Michel as titular overlord while acknowledging Anneville’s day-to-day administration. Le Comte never acquired its own manor-house and was never summoned to the Royal Chief Pleas—facts later cited by Anneville’s seigneurs as proof that the fief remained subordinate to Anneville rather than directly to the Crown (Duncan 1841). An act of partage (1350) drawn up “à Anneville devant la Cour Royale” lists each sub-fief separately and stipulates that, failing heirs, the reversion returns to “Sire Edmond d’Anneville”, confirming Anneville as ultimate overlord. Although Mont-Saint-Michel never exercised daily control, the abbey maintained its claim while Anneville retained practical dominance, a duality echoed in later litigation. After King John lost Normandy in 1204 the abbey’s suzerainty waned; Anneville’s overlordship persisted and in 1248 Henry III re-granted the forfeited Anneville estate—including any residual rights over Le Comte—to William de Chesney (Calendar of Patent Rolls 1247-48). At the Assizes of 1299 and 1309 the de Chesney seigneurs were asked to justify extensive privileges—one-quarter of all wreck, rights of chase on the King’s Fief and a private court for their tenants. Their counsel produced a pedigree that began with Robert, Count of Mortain, passed to Baldwin de Vere and ended with Sir William de Chesney, entirely omitting the earlier Wake tenure. Modern historians explain this omission as a calculated legal tactic. First, anchoring the title in a grant from William the Conqueror’s half-brother supplied an unimpeachable “ducal” origin and avoided the politically awkward Angevin Wakes, whose lands had been vulnerable to confiscation after 1204. Second, by 1299 no Wake charters survived in the island archives; court clerks relied on documents then in de Chesney hands, so the Wakes simply “fell out of the record.” Third, Norman procedure required a litigant to cite only the latest grant made by the highest lord; because the Wakes had held Le Comte as under-tenants of Mont-Saint-Michel, their deeds were irrelevant to a plea about haut-justice. The result was what contemporaries called a “usable fiction,” tidy enough for the Court and left unchallenged by both Crown and Abbey, which had already lost earlier suits over the fief’s status (Tupper 1854, pp. 72-74; de Guérin 1909, pp. 18-19; Ewen 1961, pp. 198-199). The arrangement endured into the early-modern era and was successfully invoked in the Andros Appeal of 1660-61, when Anneville’s heirs reclaimed Pomare, La Cour and Longues from Le Comte’s holder (MS appeal, Royal Court of Guernsey).