I had a chance today to briefly examine William T. Reedy's good work,
Basset Charters c. 1120 to 1250 (Pubs. Pipe Roll Soc. n.s 50) (1995).
Specifically, I examined his comments regarding the marriage of Sir
Alan Basset, of Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, and his wife, Aline de Gay.
I also looked at some of the charters involving the Gay family
inheritance.
On page 164, Mr. Reedy states that Alan Basset "was married to his
first wife Alice into at least Easter term 1205 ... He married Aline de
Gay sometime before 16 April 1206." Mr. Reedy cites as his evidence
for these dates and marriages two references to Curia Regis Rolls,
which items read as follows:
Date: Easter term 1205
Surr'.- Gillebertus de Abbingewrth' Gillebertus de Baseville Willelmus
Malbanc Adam de Aldeham, missi ad sciendum quem Alicia uxor Alani
Basset vellet ponere loco suo versus Thomam filium Ricardi de placito
feodi unius militis in Bradeton', dicunt quod posuit loco sio Alanum
virum suum vel Walterum Clericum etc. [Reference: Curia Regis Rolls, 3
(1926): 274].
Date: 1206
Wilt'. - Alina uxor Alani Basset ponit loco suo Alanum virum suum vel
Matheum Brand' versus Thomam filium Ricardi et Aliciam uxorem suam de
placito terre in Lasbradeton' etc.; et Alicia ponit loco suo Thomas
virum suum. [Reference: Curia Regis Rolls, 4 (1929): 114].
We see above the first mention of the suit dated 1205 which indicates
that "Alice" wife of Alan Basset appoints her husband Alan or Walter a
priest her attorneys in a plea against Thomas Fitz Richard involving
one knight's fee in Broadtown, Willtshire. The following year, in what
is surely a continuation of the same suit, "Aline" wife of Alan Basset
appoints Alan her husband or Matthew Brand to represent her in a plea
of land in Broadtown, Wiltshire against Thomas Fitz Richard and Alice
his wife. There can be no question that Alan Basset's wife in both
parts of this lawsuit is his wife, Aline de Gay. We can be sure of
this as Broadtown, Wiltshire was part of Aline de Gay's inheritance.
Also, the same defendant, Thomas Fitz Richard, in named in both
records.
Elsewhere, on page 163, I find Mr. Reedy has unwittingly provided
evidence which gives us a more accurate dating of Alan and Aline's
marriage. This evidence is found in a renunciation document issued by
Stephen prior and the convent of Monkton Farleigh, Wiltshire of their
claims against Alan Basset concerning the advowson of the church of
Wootton Bassett, Wiltshire. Mr. Reedy has correctly dated this
document as being sometime before 21 April 1191, when Prior Stephen's
successor was deposed [Reference: Knowles, Brooke, and London, Heads of
Religious Houses, pg. 120]. Since Wootton Bassett, Wiltshire was part
of Aline de Gay's inheritance, this record is good evidence that Sir
Alan Basset and his wife, Aline de Gay, were married sometime before 21
April 1191. Alan Basset would have no interest in the advowson of the
church of Wootton Bassett, except through his wife, Aline.
From his comments in his notes, Mr. Reedy seems to suppose that Wootton
Bassett, Wiltshire was part of Alan Basset's inheritance from his
father. On this point, Reedy is again mistaken. Wootton Bassett,
Wiltshire (which was known simply as Wootton in this time period) was
definitely part of Aline de Gay's inheritance. I've previously posted
a document which associates Aline's widowed mother, Cecily, with
Wootton, Wiltshire in this same approximate time period. Besides
Wootton Bassett, Wiltshire, Aline de Gay's inheritance included as
stated above Broadtown, Wiltshire, as well as Northbrook (in
Kirklington), Oxfordshire (the latter property fell to Aline on the
death of her sister, Cecily, sometime after 1190).
I believe the above discussion demonstrates the importance of tracing
property ownership in both male and female lines when attempting to
assemble a reliable account of a medieval baronial family. In this
instance, Mr. Reedy made several assumptions based on inadequate or bad
information regarding the descent of Gay family estates. This in turn
caused him to make some erroneous statements regarding Sir Alan Basset
and his wife, Aline de Gay.
For evidence that Alan Basset was a knight, see Agnes M. Leys, Sandford
Cartulary (Oxfordshire Rec. Soc. 19) (1938): 99-100 (charter dated c.
1217 witnessed by "domino Alan Basseth").
Best always, Douglas Richardson, Salt Lake City, Utah
Website: http://www.royalancestry.net