William Reedy, editor of _Basset Charters c.1120 to 1250_ (London,
1995),
table 3 on p. xxxix, gave Philip as the youngest son of his father's
first
wife, Alice de Gray, presumably considering that his daughter Aline
was
named after his step-mother or sister.
Is this an error on Reedy's part, and/or is there specific evidence
for
Philip's maternity?
Dear Newsgroup ~
Yes, Mr. Reedy made an unfortunate error. Sir Philip Basset was the
son of Alan Basset, of Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, by his only known
wife, Aline, daughter and co-heiress of Philip de Gay (or Gai), of
Wootton Basset, Wiltshire and Northbrook, Oxfordshire. Aline's surname
is definitely Gay (or Gai), not Gray.
I believe you can find Aline's correct surname given in an ancient deed
(#A4821) in which her husband, Alan Basset, gave the offerings of the
chapel of his court of Wootton to the mother church of Wootton.
Aline's surname can also be found in a charter published in Bradenstoke
Cartulary:
Littlecott
[1229 x 1232] Gift in alms by Alan Basset, at the instance of Aline
de Gay his wife, of all the land held by Ethelwin in Littlecott,
together with
Ethelwin and all his family. To be held of Alan and his heirs, free of
all
but royal service and a rent of 5s. payable annually to the house of
[Monkton]
Farleigh at the feast of St. Mary in Mar. and at Michaelmas. Warranty.
Seals of Alan and Aline. Witnesses: Sir Wal. abbot of Stanley, Gilb.
Basset. END OF QUOTE. [Reference: Vera London, Cartulary of
Bradenstoke Priory (Wiltshire Rec. Soc. 35) (1979)].
Aline de Gay's lands in Wiltshire and Oxfordshire eventually passed to
her son, Sir Philip Basset, and thence by lineal descent onto the
Despenser family. Below is a record taken from the National Archives
catalogue which shows Sir Philip Basset was patron of the church of
Wootton Bassett, Wiltshire, which property formed part of his Gay
inheritance:
E 42/377:
Ordinances made by Walter, Bishop of Salisbury, for a hospital to be
founded at Wootton Bassett by Sir Philip Basset, patron of the church,
and Th. de Gay, rector: [Wilts.]. Date: 1266.
By the way, it would be great if newsgroup members could post their
descent from Aline de Gay, wife of Alan Basset, down to an immigrant
gateway ancestor. Aline de Gay has modern descendants through three of
her children: (1) Sir Philip Basset (ancestor of the Despenser family);
(2) Aline (wife of Drew de Montagu, Richard Talbot, and Nicholas de
Yatingdon); and (3) Katherine (wife of John Lovel). If we look for it,
I bet we all have Gay ancestry.
Best always, Douglas Richardson, Salt Lake City, Utah
Website: http://www.royalancestry.net