Most genealogical enquiry of the remote past falls at the hurdle of “proof”, with suggested pedigrees being queried or rejected because of its lack. In most cases the suggested pedigrees would fall on the hurdle of extreme improbability. Those that seem more plausible can be judged on that criteria alone. When looking at the suggested pedigree, and the information around it, it can be asked, “what is the case here?”, what sense does this make?” – when judged against what we know of the custom among those being studied; the kinship groupings that repeated in each generation. If we were to simply rely on the “Oxbridge” method of reserach, with its emphasis on “proof” (which is often dubious), then we are left in the doldrums, with only an ancient mariner for company.

The sense I get from the following data is that the family of Thomas le Despencer, who held land at Burton-on-the-Wolds in the 12th century, was synonomous with that of Jort, and they were a branch of the Courcys.
1. Robert de Courcy, fl. 1058, m. Herleva de Bernieres, receiving as her dower land adjacent the river Dives at Jort, Bernieres, d’Ailly, Couliboeuf and Morteaux. Jort had belonged to Lesceline, Countess of Eu, and was associated with the Courcis: “Cil de Courci e Cil de Jort” (J. R. Planche, The Conqueror and his Companions).
1.1. Richard de Courcy, d. 1098, was described as of the family of the ‘seneschals de Corcie’, Wace, III, vv, 8481-82, 8526. Richard de Courcy, was tenant-in-chief in England temp. William. (Reg., I; D.B, 159a; Loyd, Origins, p. 36; Green, Government, pp. 242-4). Richardus de Curseio tenuit de eadam comitissa in Macel, Jort, Pont (Pont-de-Jort), etc., (Gal. Christ, 7, 159).
1.1.1. Robert de Courcy (le Despencer),* m. Rohais, dau. of Hugh de Grandmesnil. He donated land at Jort to St.-Pierre-sur-Dives, with the consent of Lesceline, comitesse d’Eu, that is, Lesceline de Harcourt, da. of Turchetil de Harcourt, wife of William d’Eu. Their son, William d’Eu II., m. Beatrice de Busli; sis. & event. h. in her issue of her brother, Roger de Busli.
1.1.1.1. William de Courcy, Dapifer of Henry 1., m. Avice (ca. 1125); the dau. and coheir of William Meschin (and Cecily de Rumilly), brother of Ranulf le Meschin, the Earl of Chester, d. 1129, whose “usher” was Robert de Jorz.
1.1.1.1.1. William de Courcy:

“William de Courcy, steward of the king of England, to the sons of Holy Mother Church, health. Know ye that I have granted and by this present charter confirmed that donation, which my mother, Avicia de Rumilly, gave to the nuns of Arthington, namely, the half part of the land of Helthwait free and quit in pure and perpetual frankalmoign, and in time of harvest to have the fattening of forty swine of their own free of charge in her wood of Swindon, and common pasture to their own animals in the aforesaid wood; upon the condition nevertheless that one nun, whom the lady Avicia shall place there, shall be always resident in the convent of Arthington. After the decease of my mother, I, her son and heir, and my heirs shall have for ever the same privilege in respect of the convent of Arthington. Of this donation these are witnesses, William, parson of Harewood, and William, chaplain of the mansion of the lady Avicia, and Gocelinus” (E.Y.C.). William’s widow m. William Paynel, son of Fulk Paynel, as his second wife. (ibid.).

1.2. William de Courcy/William Hostarius, held land in Bramcote: “William Hosiarius has there one plough”.
1.2.1. Robert de Courcy/Robert the Usher. Nichol’s Leicestershire, v.1-2, p. 107: “Robert the Usher” (Hostarius) possessed lands in two lordships in this county, Claxton and Howes.* He was the son of William the Usher, and his lordship devolved to Roger de Busli”.

Robert de Courcy was synonomous with Robert de Jort, a descendant being: “Robert de Jorz, who appears in the returns of 1166 as a holder on the Blyth fief, is entered, as a Tickhill knight, on the Pipe Roll of 1162, as Robert de Jort’. (Mr. Round).

Prestwold, Leicestershire. Folio 237r, Domesday Book (D.B.). People mentioned inc.: Hugh de Grandmesnil; Robert the usher son of William the usher; Roger de Busli.
Seagrave, Leicestershire. Folio: 234v, D.B. People mentioned inc.: *Robert Despenser; Roger de Busli.
*Hose, Leicestershire: Folio 235r, D.B.: Robert Despenser; Robert the usher son of William the usher.
*Hose, Leicestershire: Folio 237r, D.B.: Hugh de Grandmesnil: Robert the usher son of William the usher; Roger de Busli.
Wimeswold. “In 1086 Robert and Serlo held the manor under Hugh de Grentemaisnel, Roger de Busli had 2 carucates, which 8 servants held; Robert de Jorz held 2 carucates; 2 servants held a plough; there were 5 acres of meadow” (John Curtis, A Topographical History of the County of Leicester, p. 187, 1831).
Burton Jorz (Burton Joyce). Tenants -in-chief in 1086: Roger of Busli.

(1. Hugh de Segrave, d. ca, 1133.
1.1. Hereward de Segrave.
1.1.1. Gilbert de Segrave, named as tenant of land in Leicester in a fine of 1197; held the fourth part of one knight’s fee of William de Newburgh, Earl of Warwick, and he was joint sheriff with Reginald Basset, for the Trent. William son of Ralph de Meisham and Gilbert de Sadgrave. 1190-1200. William has acknowledged the homage of Gilbert for 1 virgate of land in Cusinton which Gilbert held of William’s father and which Herbert son of Roger de Sadgrave sold to Gilbert; rent 6d. a year at the feast of St. Martin. Witnesses: Thomas Despenser (Dispensarius), who was the father of Rose, first wife of Stephen de Segrave (d. 1241). 1190 -1200. (BCM/D/5/18/2).
1.1.1.1. Stephen de Segrave, m. (1) Rohesia, dau. of Thomas and sister of Hugh le Despenser. Thomas le Despenser endowed Rohesis with lands at Burton-on-the-Wolds.
1.1.1.1.1. Gilbert de Segrave.
1.1.1.1.1.1. Nicholas de Segrave, m. Alice de Armenters (the relict of Gerard de Lisle), dau. of Henry de Armenters, br. and heir of John, son of Geoffrey de Armenters. (Plac. de Quo Warranto, p. 527). Alice Tromewyne, widow of John Jors of Wymeswold; and Sir Nicholas de Segrave, knight, and Alice his wife. Alice has granted to Nicholas and Alice a messuage with all her holding in the vill of Wymundewold, which she had by grant of Thomas Tromewyne her uncle. Wit., Sir Robert Pouterel of Prestwold. Feb. 15, 1299. Robert de Heia, son of Robert de Heia of Humberstone, and Nicholas de Sagrave, son of Gilbert de Sagrave. Robert has quitclaimed to Nicholas 1 virgate of land in the territory of Hauthirne which Geoffrey son of Edith sometime held and which Robert de Humbrestam, his father, granted to Nicholas. Witnesses: Sir Richard de Thorp, Walter de Tatereshall, Stephen de Jort of Wymeswold. (BCM/D/5/54/1).

Mr. Yeatman takes up the story:

“We learn from Leicestershire History that, in some mysterious
manner, the great Roger de Busli succeeded as heir to the estates
of Robert fil Will Hostarius in that county; in Notts., they held
the Manor of Stanford jointly. Evidently this family were
faithful to the Conqueror, and unwisely for their interests,
remained attached to his unworthy heir — the Duke Robert —
for we find in that humiliating compact in 1088, by which the
rapacious and wily Prince Henry purchased from him the
Cotentin and other districts, including the Lordship of Hugh,
Earl of Chester, that Robert Hostarius was one of the
witnesses on the part of the Earl”. ‘Feudal History of the County of Derby, Mr. Yeatman, p. 385, 1886.

The “mysterious manner” being that their estates devolved in the same manner as that of their cousin, Robert de Courcy, as given; along the successors of their mesne lords, the Counts d’Eu. (The overlords of the Despencers, the family of Berges, may have derived from Asketil, brother of the Countess Lesceline, as suggested in previous notes).

1.2.1.1. Robert de Jorz, b. ca. 1080, noted in The Leicestershire Survey of 1124-1129.
1.2.1.1.1. Robert de Jorz. Temp. 1168-1179. Notification by Thomas the Despenser, Geoffrey de Jort, William de Munford, Henry son of Serlo and Richard his brother, and Robert son of Picot that they have given ‘Locholmewro de Fulefen’ beside Holywell Hall* to Garendon abbey. Robert and William de Jorz also donated from this holding, as exampled: “Heremitorium de Halliwellhaga dedit nobis Robertus de Jort et decem acras terre in campo de Wymundewaldà.” (1162). (Garendon cartulary, ff 8v.-9 and ff. 18v.-19v.). “Ranulph earl of Chester confirmed to the monks of Garendon the donations which had been made them at Haliwell-haw by Robert de Jort, William de Jort, and Thomas le Dispencer”. (The Hundred of East Gascote, Mr. Nichols, p. 122).
1.2.1.1.1.1. Geoffrey de Jorz, of Burton Joyce.
1.2.1.1.1.1.1. Richard de Jorz.
1.2.1.1.1.1.2. Robert de Jorz.
1.2.1.1.1.1.3. Ranulph de Jorz, “holds of the king’s serjeanty in the vill of Wymundwold and Houton 32 virgates of land. Temp. Thomas Putrell held in Hoton 4 bovates of the serjeanty of Ranulf de Jorz, and Gilbert de Segrave 2 bovates of the same. 1247-1248. Fine Rolls.
1.2.1.1.1.1.3.1. Stephen de Jorz.
1.2.1.1.1.1.3.1.1. Simon le Jorz of Wymeswold; and Sir Nicholas de Segrave and Alice his wife, widow of Sir Gerard de Insula, and Maud daughter of Nicholas and Alice. Wed. the feast of St. Mark. Simon has quitclaimed to Nicholas, Alice and Maud, for their lives, all the lands of the honour of Tykehil, which Stephen le Jorz, his father, formerly held of the honour in Wymundwold. Witnesses: Sir John de Nevile, Sir Robert Poutrel, Sir Thomas de Meynil, Hugh de Prestewold, William le Broun of Burton, Reginald le Berges of the same. 1313. (BCM/D/5/54/3).
1.2.1.1.1.1.3.1.2. John de Jorz.
1.2.1.1.2. William de Jorz. The Garendon cart. notes donations made them at Haliwell-haw by Robert de Jort and William de Jort (Mr. Nichols,The Hundred of East Gascote, p. 122).
1.2.1.1.2. Geoffrey le Despencer, b. ca. 1105.
1.2.1.1.2.1. Thomas le Despencer (ca. 1135-1207), granted lands at Burton-on-the-Wolds to Garendon Abbey, betw. 1168 and 1190, witnessed by Robert, Earl of Leicester, and his wife, Countess Petronella. Thomas Dispensator, filius Gaufridi Dispensatoris, salutem … x bovatas terre, cum omnibus pertinentiis suis, in campo de Burtona, concessu Asketilli de Berges domini mei de eadem terra “. Hence, Asketilli de Berges is the feudal lord of Thomas; no familial link is recorded, as exampled here: “Carta Asketilli de Berges de tribus carucatis terrae in Burtunia, et de octo acris (Ambr. Phil. fol. 37), concessionem etiam et confirmationem quas idem comes per idem scriptum fecit eisdem abbati et monachis, de donationibus quas Robertus de Jorz, Willielmus de Jorz, et Thomas Dispensarius fecerunt praedictis monachis in feudo ipsius comitis de Haliwellhawe. Concessionem insuper et confirmationem quas Asketillus de Berges per cartam fecit eisdem monachis, de donatione Thomœ Dispensatoris de decern bovatis terrae cum pertinentiis, de feodo suo in Burton“.
1.2.1.1.2.1.1. Hugh le Despencer.
1.2.1.1.2.1.1.1. Hugh le Despencer. Grant by Hugh le Despencer (dispensarius), son and heir of Hugh le Despencer, to Sir Geoffrey le Despencer, his uncle, of all his wood of Thorp Munfort and all the soil of the same, which descended to him from his said father, and from William le Despencer his uncle. Witness, Sir Gilbert de Segrave. (E 40/6877).
Release by Hugh de Berghes to Hugh Dispensar, for 20 marcs and a robe, of a windmill with its site in Saxelby. Witnesses: Stephen de Segrave, Gilbert his son, Hugh de Truvile, Gilbert Mallore, and others. Leic., ca. 1230. (E 40/1421). The Despencers remained feudatories of the family of Berges. Garendon Abbey and Sir Gilbert de Segrave. The abbey has agreed that Gilbert should have free entry and egress for his beasts and the beasts of his men in Hawthorne into the fields of Dixele between the feast of the nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the feast of the Purification, provided that the hay and corn be carried by the former date. Witnesses: Sir Hugh Dispenser. 1251. (BCM/D/5/26/7). As shown, the Segraves and Despencers were intermarried. Grant by Roger, son of Roger, clerk of Worksop, to William de Furnivall. Two shillings’ annual rent payable by Thomas Chambers (de Camera) for a tenement in Langeburnedal; for six shillings. Witnesses: Stephan de Jorz, Nicholas de Ordeshil, Hugh de Dispensa. Bef. 1260. (Sheffield City Archives, ACM/WD/583).
1.2.1.1.2.2. Sir Geoffrey le Despencer. Release by Maud, dau. of Robert le Mouner of Thorp, to Sir Geoffrey le Despencer (dispensario), of her right within his close and park of Beaumanor (bellomanerio). Witnesses: Sirs Richard de Jorz and Richard de Torp, and others. Leicestershire. (E 40/7607). Beaumanor was *Holywell Hall.
1.2.1.1.2.3. Henry le Despencer, witnessed a deed of his bother-in-law, Stephen de Segrave, d. 1241, Justicar of England
1.2.1.1.2.4. Rohesia, m. Stephen de Segrave. Avice sister of Roger de Sidenhale and Stephen de Segrave. Avice has granted to Stephen 4 bovates of land in Wimundewald, Roger de Sidenhale had granted to his sister Avice 4 bovates of land with their tenants at a rent of 2d. a year. Witnesses: Peter de Sancto Edwardo, Ranulf de Jorz (held I fee in Wimeswould of the honor of Tickhill, and was br. of Robert de Jorz). 1220-1230. (BL Harl. MS 4748, f. 13d.).
1.2.1.1.2.5. Robert le Despencer, of Beeston. Its castle was built by Ranulph de Blundeville, Earl of Chester, after his return from the holy land. In 1236, Henry de Audley was sent with Hugh le Despencer and Stephen de Segrave to command this castle.

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