Geoffrey
de Costentin and family in Thirteenth Century Ireland
Niall
C.E.J. O’Brien
The Anglo-Norman invasion of Ireland in 1169 and
subsequent partial conquest of the country (Ireland was not fully conquered
until 1607) introduced into the country many settlers from England, Wales and
France. These settlements were part of an expanding European population that
wanted more living space. One of these new comers was Geoffrey de Costentin who
got land in modern-day County Westmeath and north County Dublin.
Early
history of Geoffrey de Costentin
It would appear from
early documents and later settlements that Geoffrey de Costentin came from
Lincolnshire. In 1155-66 a person called Geoffrey de Costentin was a witness to
a grant of Legsby church in Lincolnshire to Sixhills abbey by Robert, son of
Robert de Thweng.[1]
The Costentin family were owners of Bonby manor in Lincolnshire from at least
the first half of the thirteenth century. Yet in 1201-2 a person called
Geoffrey de Costentin was paying fines in Lancastershire, Wiltshire and in the
honor of Gloucester.[2] Geoffrey de Costentin also held the
manor of Thorp in Staffordshire from the Earl of Lancaster. This place later
took on the name of Thorp Costentin.[3]
Land
in Westmeath
Sometime before the death in 1186 of
Hugh de Lacy, lord of Meath, Geoffrey de Costentin received a grant of Kilbixy in
the barony of Moyguish. In 1192 Geoffrey de Costentin erected an oblong shape
mote to secure this new estate. The attached bailey and town beyond have not
survived the ravages of war and time.[4] Many of
the sub-tenants of Anglo-Norman Ireland, like Geoffrey de Costentin, appear to
have connections to their overlord in England or France.[5] Somewhere
in Geoffrey’s past life before he came to Ireland must have been a connection
with the de Lacy family.
Later Walter de Lacy confirmed the
grant to Geoffrey de Costentin of Kilbixy with its castle and five knight’s
fees along with the land of Conemake beside it with fifteen knight’s fees and
the land beyond the River Inny with four knight’s fees.[6] Kilbixy
became a town of importance but its location on the marches between the English
and Irish sphere of influence made its future growth uncertain. In 1450 the son
of MacGeoghegan plundered the English lands of Westmeath including the area
around Kilbixy.[7]
Thereafter it appears the town went into decline.
Ballynacargy in Kilbixy by Sarah777
Balrothery in north County Dublin
Sometime before 1200 Geoffrey de
Costentin got land at Balrothery in north County Dublin. This property stayed
with the Costentin family for many generations. In July 1295 Richard de
Costentin paid 50s for relief on his lands of Balrothery and in Michaelmas 1297
Richard de Cotentin paid 20s towards the army services called for at
Castledermot from his lands of Balrothery.[8]
Long after the life and property of Geoffrey
de Costentin had faded from living memory some connections continued across the
centuries. In 1641 Lady Peirse of Tristernagh was the owner of sixty acres at
Newhouse in the parish of Balrothery along with twenty-four acres in Balrothery
townland in the same parish.[9]
Tristernagh in Westmeath was where Geoffrey de Costentin founded an Augustinian
priory.
Tristernagh priory
An important feature of the lives of
the early Anglo-Norman conquerors and settlers was the foundation and endowment
of religious houses.[10] In
about 1200 Geoffrey de Costentin founded Tristernagh priory near Kilbixy for
Augustinian canons. The priory of St. Mary, as it was called, was richly
endowed with lands and seven churches.[11] One of
these churches was Balrothery in County Dublin. In 1181-1212 Geoffrey de
Costentin gave the church of Balrothery to Tristernagh abbey by Kilbixy. From
this church Tristernagh was to pay Lusk church 40s per year as Balrothery was
an ancient subdivision of Lusk. Another 100s was to be paid for a ‘fit priest’
to serve at Balrothery.[12] The
revenues of Balrothery were greater than these amounts so as to give
Tristernagh some profit but these profits were shortly reduced.
In 1219-28 the two prebendaries at
Lusk complained of not getting enough. By way of compromise Tristernagh had to
pay Lusk £10 sterling per year in two payments of 100s each. If one of the
prebendaries died then Tristernagh was free from paying 100s for that year.[13]
Tristernagh priory continued until the dissolution of the monasteries under
Henry VIII and the abbey buildings were destroyed in 1783. In 1941 the Register
of Tristernagh priory was published under the editorship of M. Clarke.[14]
Tristernagh priory by JohnArmagh
Grant of land on west side of Athlone
In November 1200 King John granted
Geoffrey de Costentin a cantred of land near Athlone called the Fews of
Athlone, otherwise Tirieghrachbothe, for the service of five knight’s fees.
This was in exchange for the lands of Leis and Honkreuthenan wish King John
desired to give to Meiler Fitz Henry.[15]
In April 1201 Geoffrey received the
additional cantred of Tirmany. These grants of land across the Shannon in
Connacht were possible by the English recognition of Catha Crovderg as king of
Connacht in return for the surrender to the English of land round Athlone. On 2nd
November 1201 Geoffrey de Costentin along with Meiler Fitz Henry and William de
Burgh was commission secretly to tell the barons of Meath of the recognition of
Cathal Crovderg as king. To execute these royal commands Geoffrey de Costentin
was giving legal protection on his English property while he was in Ireland.[16]
In May 1205 Geoffrey de Costentin
was in England and King John sent instructions to Meiler Fitz Henry to give
legal protection for Geoffrey’s Irish estates. By January 1208 Geoffrey had
returned to Ireland and got legal protection for his English estates.[17]
In 1210 Athlone castle was rebuilt
in stone as a royal castle guarding the crossing point into Connacht and
located in the cantred belonging to Geoffrey de Costentin who was entrusted
with the responsibility as first constable of the new castle. He was
reappointed constable in July 1215.[18] In August
1214 Geoffrey de Costentin was given another cantred of equal value to that in
which Athlone castle was situated. This order was executed in July 1215 when he
got Trithweth to hold by the service of four knight’s fees.[19]
In September 1215 King John granted
Connacht to Richard de Burgh excluding the King’s cantred where Athlone castle
was situated and the cantred given to Geoffrey de Costentin. In this grant
Geoffrey was not totally free from Richard de Burgh and instead had to do
homage for his cantred. In July 1229 King Henry III gave Geoffrey de Costentin
30 knight’s fees to use in his canted of Trithweth of which 10 fees could be
use deep into the Irish sphere of influence.[20]
Temporary justiciar and royal responsibility
In December 1201 Geoffrey de
Costentin along with Master Humphrey de Tikehull was given temporary justiciary
powers in Ireland after the justiciar, Meiler Fitz Henry, was removed after not
prosecuting William de Breouse.[21]
After the de Lacy rebellion Geoffrey
de Costentin was entrusted with the castles of Loxhundy and Hincheleder. In
July 1215 he was ordered to deliver these castles to Walter de Lacy after the
latter made his peace with King John.[22]
In about 1224 Geoffrey de Costentin
was a member on the jury panel holding an inquisition into the manor of Crumlin
and other property around Dublin following the upheaval of the de Lacy
rebellion.[23]
In April 1225 Geoffrey de Costentin
was allowed to acquire £20 worth of land in Ireland as a reward for his services
to the crown in that country. This was part of a reward scheme made to several
people associated with Ireland. In May 1225 Geoffrey de Costentin was granted
£20 a year from the Dublin Exchequer for his maintenance.[24]
In July 1229 Geoffrey de Costentin along
with Geoffrey de Turville, Archdeacon of Dublin, were entrusted with the vacant
see of Dublin. For this service Geoffrey got legal protection for his English
estates. By October 1229 there was a new Archbishop of Dublin, Luke by name,
and Geoffrey’s administration came to an end.[25]
Geoffrey de Costentin in the documents
Over the years Geoffrey de Costentin
appeared as a witness in various documents. In about 1185 Geoffrey de Costentin
was a witness to the grant by Prince John to Peter Pipard of the land in Uriel
(Louth) which Peter’s brother, Gilbert Pipard, had conquered.[26] In
about 1198 Geoffrey de Costentin was a witness to the grant by Milo le Bret of
the ville of Stagory to the Hospital of St. John the Baptist outside the
Newgate of Dublin.[27]
In October 1200 Geoffrey de
Costentin was in Gloucester to witness the grant of land in Ireland to Thomas,
abbot of Glendalough.[28] In
the early thirteenth century Geoffrey de Costentin was one of the witnesses to
the grant of a charter of rights by Walter de Lacy to the burgesses of Kells.[29]
In August 1220 Geoffrey de Costentin
was in Oxford to witness the appointment of Geoffrey de Mariscis as the new
justiciar of Ireland. But the new justiciar failed to send the profits of
Ireland to England and in July 1221 was dismissed. A letter appointing Henry,
Archbishop of Dublin, as the new justiciar was sent to all the magnates of
Ireland including Geoffrey de Costentin.[30]
Early in the reign of Henry III
Geoffrey de Costentin was a witness to the grant by Robert de Curzon of
Diseworth in Leicestershire to Stephen de Sedgrave in exchange for the land of
Kilculy (Kilkenny?) in Ireland which Stephen gave to Robert. Geoffrey also
witnessed the confirmation grant by Stephen de Curzon, brother of Robert, in
return for a rent of 2s per year.[31]
Death and successors
In 1229-30 Geoffrey de Costentin was
allowed to repay a debt of 50 marks that he owed to the king by instalments of
5 marks at Michaelmas and 5 marks at Easter until the debt was paid.[32]
Sometime between 1230 and 1232 Geoffrey
de Costentin died. In May 1232 the king took the homage of Geoffrey Costentin
for the lands that his father held in
capite in Ireland.[33] By
June 1244 Geoffrey de Costentin junior was dead leaving a minor as heir. King
Henry granted Richard de Dover the lands held in capite by Geoffrey in Ireland along with the lands Geoffrey held
of Walter de Lacy until the age was of age.
Geoffrey de Costentin the third
Geoffrey de Costentin the third came
of age in December 1252. In March 1253 Geoffrey de Costentin was given seisin
of Balrothery on payment to the king of one year’s income (£33 9½d).[34]
But Geoffrey de Costentin the third
didn’t live long to enjoy his inheritance. In the 37th year Henry
III (1252-3) Geoffrey de Costentin died leaving his son Geoffrey as heir. The
young 21 year old succeeded to various properties in Ireland
Geoffrey de Costentin also had one
knight’s fee at Dromiskyn (worth 2s per year) which was held of the Archbishop
of Armagh by a rent of two pounds of wax.[37] Dromiskin
was previously held by Ralph of Mutton. This Ralph was in dispute with Luke de
Netterville, Archbishop of Armagh, over the ownership of the manor.[38]
Geoffrey de Costentin the fourth
Little is known about Geoffrey de
Costentin the fourth. In 1263-4 Geoffrey Costentin died leaving his brother
John Costentin (aged 29 years) as heir. John Costentin succeeded to the land of
Bonby in Lincolnshire formerly held by Geoffrey de Costentin and to the Irish
lands.[39]
John de Costentin
In 1271 John Costentin held 4
knights fees at Kenkilly in the honor of Fore from Geoffrey de Geneville.[40] This
place was in waste in 1253. It is unknown if John de Costentin was able to
restored its prosperity but does appear that John had ambitions to develop his
Irish property. Around 1281 John de Costentin enfeoffed his brother Richard de Costentin
of the manor of Bonby in exchange for certain lands in Ireland. For this
Richard was to pay John a pair of gilt spurs at Easter.[41]
Sometime before 14th
February 1291 John de Costentin died and was found seized at his inquisition
post mortem of a capital messuage, 11 bovates of land in demesne along with
free tenants holding a further 22 bovates of land in the manor of Bonby. Geoffrey
Costentin, son of John, was aged 30 years plus and was heir to Bonby.[42]
Bonby church by David Wright
Geoffrey de Costentin the fifth
Little is known of Geoffrey de
Costentin the fifth. In February 1291 Geoffrey de Costentin was fined a half
mark because he failed to appear at the Dublin county court.[43] Sometime
in the next two or three years Geoffrey de Costentin died without no direct
heirs and was succeeded in his Irish property by his cousin (uncle), Richard de
Costentin. His inquisition post mortem for Balrothery was taken in 1294-5.[44]
Richard de Costentin
In October 1293 Richard de Costentin
was given legal protection in England as he travelled to Ireland with Adam de
Botyndon.[45] In
December 1299 Richard de Costentin was given further legal protection in
England and Ireland through his attorney Thomas Tracy. This allowed Richard de
Costentin to make homage to King Edward for the lands in Ireland held by
Geoffrey de Costentin, his deceased cousin, as Geoffrey’s heir.[46]
These lands were taken into the king’s hands because Richard failed to do
homage for same in a reasonable time. In December 1299 John Wogan was
instructed to restore the lands to Richard Costentin.[47]
Over the succeeding years Richard de
Costentin appointed many attorneys to administrate his Irish lands. In February
1301 Reginald de Dene and John de Altaribus were appointed Irish attorneys for
Richard de Costentin as he returned to England.[48] It
appears that Richard soon fell out with Reginald over money. A note in February
1301 said that Reginald de Dene acknowledged that he owed Richard Costentin the
sum of 500 marks and that Richard could enter Reginald’s lands in Ireland if he
defaulted.[49]
In February 1302 Richard remained in
England and appointed Robert Crispin and Geoffrey de Stretton as his Irish
attorneys. In 1303 Richard’s Irish attorneys were Walter de Hereford and John
Fitz Stephen. In 1305 his Irish attorneys for the following two years were
William de Whethelesburgh and Hugh de Foalmethely.[50] Clearly
Richard had trouble retaining constant Irish attorneys or he was just a hard
task master.
It seems
from the records that Richard Costentin often went to Ireland on extended
visits. In 1303 he was living in Ireland when he asked for a writ that Sir
Richard de Exeter, chief justice of the Dublin Bench, would receive his English
attorneys for three years. Richard Costentin was too ill at the time to go in
person to the Dublin Bench.[51]
By 1318 Richard de Costentin still retained some property
interest in Ireland as in that year he held the manor of Ballyfermot, Co.
Dublin, of Robert de Clahull.[52] But
his was dead by September 1318. Before that Richard de Costentin and Matilda
his wife made an enfeoffment of Bonby to John de Hothum, Bishop of Ely. In
September 1318 the Bishop made a grant to Matilda (then a widow) of 10 marks
yearly in return for her grant to the Bishop of her dower lands at Bonby.[53] By
December 1318 John de Hothum, Bishop of Ely, held Bonby and did homage for same
to the king.[54] This
John de Hothum was an important figure in early fourteenth century Ireland.[55]
Geoffrey
de Costentin the sixth
Although the Costentin family had
left Bonby some members of the family still retained property in Ireland. In
1323-4 Geoffrey de Costentin paid £1 for a half service for Balrothery in the
army service of Tylagh issued by John de Arcy.[56] It is not
clear if this Geoffrey de Costentin the sixth was a son of Richard de Costentin
or some other relationship. Clearly he was some relation to Richard as Balrothery
was an ancient property of the family since the days of King Richard.
After Geoffrey de Costentin the
sixth the family appears to have died out or certainty disappeared from the
surviving records. There was a person called Adam de Costentin living in County
Kerry in 1295 but it is unknown if he was any relation.[57]
Thus after near 150 years, another Anglo-Norman family disappears into the
mists of an Irish day.
Although the connections between their property in
Westmeath and Dublin continued up until 1641 and the priory ruins of
Tristernagh stood until the late eighteenth century little now remains except
the records. By 1324 the Irish were well on their way to recovery large parts of
Ireland from the English. Thus the arrival of Geoffrey de Costentin in Ireland
in the reign of Henry II and the demised of the family in the reign of Edward
II covers the rise and the beginning of the fall of Anglo-Norman Ireland.
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=================
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[1] Farrer, W., and Clay, C.T. (eds.), Early Yorkshire Charters: Volume 11, The Percy Fee (Cambridge,
2013), 206
[2] Anon, Rotulus Cancellarii,
Vel Antigraphum Magni Rotuli Pipæ, de Tertio Anno Regni Regus Johannis
(London, 1833), pp. 56, 120 234
[3] http://www.british-history.ac.uk/staffs-hist-collection/vol5/pt1/pp105-109
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[8] Sweetman, H.S. (ed.), Calendar
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1293-1301, p. 138, no. 442
[9] Simington, R.C. (ed.), The
Civil Survey A.D. 1654-1656 Vol. VII County of Dublin (Dublin, 1945), pp. 14,
15
[11] Gwynn, A., and Hadcock, R.N., Medieval
Religious Houses Ireland (Blackrock, 1988), p. 196; Brooks, E. St. John, Knights’ fees in Counties Wexford, Carlow
and Kilkenny, 13th-15th Century (Dublin, 1950), p. 199n
[15] Sweetman (ed.), Calendar of
Documents relating to Ireland, volume 1, 1171-1251, no. 137; Otway-Ruthven, A history of Medieval Ireland, p. 75
[16] Orpen, Ireland under the Normans, volume II,
pp. 189, 190; Sweetman (ed.), Calendar of Documents relating to Ireland, volume 1, 1171-1251,
nos. 137, 153, 157, 158;
Otway-Ruthven, A history of Medieval
Ireland, p. 76
[18] Orpen, Ireland under the Normans, volume II, p.
284; Sweetman (ed.), Calendar of Documents relating to Ireland, volume 1, 1171-1251, no.
615
[19] Sweetman (ed.), Calendar of
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Ireland’, in Lydon, J. (ed.), England and
Ireland in the Later Middle Ages (Dublin, 1981), pp.26-42, at p. 30
[23] Nicholls, K.W., ‘Inquisitions of 1224 from the Miscellanea of the
Exchequer’, in Analecta Hibernica,
no. 27 (1972), pp. 103-112, at p. 107
[24] Sweetman (ed.), Calendar of
Documents relating to Ireland, volume 1, 1171-1251, nos. 1272, 1295
[25] Sweetman (ed.), Calendar of
Documents relating to Ireland, volume 1, 1171-1251, nos. 1717, 1722, 1723, 1745
[27] Brooks, E. St. John (ed.), Register
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[31] Wells-Furby, B. (ed.), A
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[32] Dryburgh, P., and Hartland, B. (eds.), Calendar of the Fine Rolls of the reign of Henry III, Volume II,
1224-1234 (London, 2008), no. 14/255
[34] Sweetman (ed.), Calendar of
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[35] Sharp, J.E.E.S. (ed.), Calendar
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[36] Down, K., ‘Colonial society and economy’, in Cosgrove, A. (ed.), A new history of Ireland, volume II:
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[37] Sharp (ed.), Calendar of
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[38] Hagger, M. The Fortunes of a
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[39] Sharp (ed.), Calendar of
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[41] Sharp, J.E.E.S. (ed.), Calendar
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[42] Sharp (ed.), Calendar of
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[44] Hogan, J., ‘Miscellanea of the Chancery, London’, in Analecta Hibernica, 1 (1930), pp.
179-218, at p. 205
[50] Sweetman (ed.), Calendar of
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[51] Connolly, P., ‘Irish material in the class of ancient petitions (sc8) in the Public Records Office, London’, in Analecta Hibernica, no. 34 (1987), pp.
1-106, at p. 82
[55] Phillips, J.R.S., ‘The Mission of John de Hothum to Ireland,
1315-1316’, in Lydon, J. (ed.), England
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[56] Forty Second Report of the
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[57] Mills, J. (ed.), Calendar of
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