Mortimer

In the Middle Ages, the Mortimers were a powerful magnate family or dynasty of Marcher Lords in the Welsh Marches, centered around Wigmore Castle in Herefordshire, and from the 14th century holding the title of Earl of March. Through marriage, the Mortimers came during the reign of Richard II to be close to the English throne, but when Richard II was deposed in 1399, the claims of the Mortimers were ignored and the throne vested in the usurper Henry of Lancaster instead. The Mortimer claims were later (1425) transmitted to the House of York, which ultimately claimed them in the Wars of the Roses.

01. Hugh De Mortimer ^[1]   was born abt 1108.  He married Maud De Meschines, daughter of William De Meschines and Cecily De Rumilly.  Hugh was Lord of Wigmore Castle.  During the Anarchy of King Stephen's reign, Mortimer was an ardant royalist until at least 1148.  He died in 1185.

02. Roger De Mortimer ^[1] son of Hugh and Maud was born in 1158 in Wigmore, Herefordshire, England. in 1174 he fought for King Henry II against the rebellion of his son, Henry.  He married Isabel De Ferrieres. In 1179 Roger was instrumental in the killing of Cadwallon ap Madog, the prince of Maelienydd and Elfael, both of which Mortimer coveted. He was imprisoned until June 1182 at Winchester for this killing. He died in 1215.

03. Ralph De Mortimer ^[1] son of Roger and Isabel was born bef. 1198.  He succeeded his elder brother before 23 November 1227 and built Cefnllys and Knucklas castles in 1240. He married Princess Gwladus Du ferch Llywelyn. He died on August 6, 1246.

04. Roger De Mortimer ^[1]   1st Baron Mortimer and son of Ralph and Gwladus was born abt. 1232. He was a famous and honoured knight from Wigmore Castle in Herefordshire. He was a loyal ally of King Henry III of England. He was at times an enemy, at times an ally, of the Welsh prince, Llywelyn the Last. He married Maud De Braose, daughter of William De Braose and Eve Marshall.  He died on October 30, 1282.

05. Edmund De Mortimer ^[1] 2nd Lord Mortimer and son of Roger and Maud was born abt 1251 in Wigmore, Herefordshire, England. As a younger son, Edmund had been intended for clerical or monastic life, and had been sent to study at Oxford University. He became heir in 1274 at the death of his brother Ralph.  His first wife's name is unknown.  In return for his services he was knighted in 1283. He married in 1285, (2) Margaret De Fiennes, daughter of William De Fiennes and Blanche De Brienne.  He died in on July 17, 1304.

06a. Roger De Mortimer ^[1] 3rd Baron of Mortimer/1st Earl of March and son of Edmund and Margaret was born on April 25, 1287. He married Joan De Geneville. In November 1316, he was appointed Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. He was imprisoned in the Tower of London in 1322 for having led the Marcher lords in a revolt against King Edward II in what became known as the Despenser War. He later escaped to France, where he was joined by Edward's queen consort Isabella, whom he took as his mistress. After he and Isabella led a successful invasion and rebellion, Edward was subsequently deposed; Mortimer allegedly arranged his murder at Berkeley Castle. For three years, Mortimer was de facto ruler of England before being himself overthrown by Edward's eldest son, Edward III. Accused of assuming royal power and other crimes, Mortimer was executed by hanging at Tyburn on November, 29, 1330. 

06b. Maude De Mortimer ^[1] daughter of Edmund and Margaret married Sir Theobald De Verdun (1278-1316), son of Theobald De Verdun and Margery.  I descend from three of their daughters:
      1. Joane De Verdun who married 2nd, Thomas De Furnivall.  Their granddaughter is Joan De Furnivall who married Thomas Neville.
      2. Elizabeth De Verdun who married Sir Bartholomew de Burghersh
      3. Margery De Verdun who married 3rd Sir John De Crophull

07. Katherine De Mortimer ^[1] daughter of Roger and Joan was born abt 1310. She married Thomas De Beauchamp on April 19, 1319 when she was about 5 years old.  As they were related within the prohibited third and fourth degrees, the marriage required a Papal dispensation.  It was an arranged marriage to settle a quarrel between the two families. She later became an important personage in the court of King Eward III.  She died in 1369.  I descend from their son William De Beauchamp who married Joan FitzAlan.