Sir Adam De Gurdon

  General Notes:

Sir Adam De Gurdon, living in the time of Henry III (1216-1272), was in that Monarch's reign a bailiff of Alton, but was outlawed for treason and rebellion, as one of the Simon De Montford faction. Gurdon fought in the Battle of Evesham in 1265, after which he fled with a band of followers to the New Forest and created such notoriety as a Highwayman "The Bandit" that he eventually came to the attention of Prince Edward (Later King Edward I), who finally cornered him in a wood near Alton. The legend was told that the Prince challenged Gurdon to single combat and that Gurdon gave such a good fight that the prince offered him his life if he would swear never to return to his outlaw trade. Gurdon accepted the offer and that night he dined with Prince Edward at Farnham Castle. He became a faithful servant of the Crown as he was restored, however, upon the accession of Edward, and constituted, in 1272, keeper of the forest of Wolmer. He married Constantia and resided in that shire, in a mansion-house called The Temple, which overlooked the forest.

  Noted events in his life were:

• Marriage: to.

• Marriage: to Constance De Venuz.

• Marriage: to Agnes Unknown.

Adam married Constance De Venuz, daughter of John De Venuz and Unknown. (Constance De Venuz was born about 1227 in Newton Valence, Hampshire.)