Lord (Sir) Roger La Zouche

  General Notes:

Roger served in Poitou, possibly under Geoffrey (died 1205), an illegitimate son of King John who held the homour of Perche and led an expedition of mercenaries to France in 1205, and again in 1214, though under some other leader; served in Ireland 1210; took an oath to uphold the baronial enforcement of Magna Carta 1215 but witnessed a charter issued by John 1216, hence had presumably switched support to the King by then; benefited from substantial land grants in Cambs, Devon, Hants and Norfolk at John's and Henry III's hands; Sheriff of Devon 1228-31; a witness to Henry III's confirmation of Magna Carta Jan 1236/7; married Margaret (died in or after 1220 or even as late as 1232 or after) and died by 14 May 1238.

Roger la Zusche who, for his fidelity to King John, had a grant from that monarch of the manors of Petersfield and Maple Durham, co. Southampton, part of the lands of Geffrey de Mandeville, one of the rebellious barons then in arms. In the next reign he was sheriff of Devonshire and had further grants from the crown. By Margaret, his wife, he had issue, Alan, his successor, and William, who left an only dau., Joice, who m. Robert Mortimer, of Richard's Castle, and had issue, Hugh Mortimer, summoned to parliament as Lord Mortimer, of Richard's Castle; and William Mortimer, who assumed the surname of Zouche, and was summoned to parliament as Lord Zouche, of Mortimer.

paid £100 to have William's lands in 1199. Those in England were seized, before 1204, while he was in Brittany, because of the war in Normandy, and he proffered 100m. to regain possession of them in that year. He served in Poitou, 1204-05 and 1214; was in Ireland, 1210; and swore to support the Barons who were enforcing Magna Carta in 1215. However, he soon joined the King, for he witnessed a royal charter, 11 June 1216, and was rewarded, both at the end of John's reign and during the opening years of Henry III, with numerous grants of land. He had licence to go on pilgrimage to Santiago, 6 August 1220; was given money as a royal messenger, October 1224; was going to Brittany, with the King's leave, May 1228; Sheriff of Devon, 10 November 1228-April 1231. In May 1229 he, with Philip Daubeney and Godfrey de Crawcombe, was allowed 100m. to cover the costs of a mission across the seas for the King. He served in Brittany, 1230; was ordered to find one knight at the King's cost to aid the Duke of Brittany, 1234; and was among those who witnessed Henry III's confirmation of Magna Carta at Westminster, 28 January 1236/7. He married Margaret, who was living in 1220 and presumably 1232. He died shortly before 14 May 1238.

  Noted events in his life were:

• Marriage: to Margaret Biset.

Roger married Margaret Biset. (Margaret Biset was born about 1187 in Kidderminster, Worcestershire and died on 28 January 1232 in North Tidworth, Pewsey, Wiltshire.)