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"Alberto Greslet". Albert's name as it appears in the Domesday Book.[1]

Albert de Gresle (fl. 1086 - 1094) was a non-resident lord of the manor of Manchester.

Origins

Various antiquarians believed that the Gresle family originated from Malahulc, purported uncle of Rollo, of whom descended Roger I of Tosny, ancestor of the future Gresley Baronets.[2][3] William Robert Whatton disputed this, believing the origin and descent of the Gresle family to be separate to that of the Derbyshire baronets, noting the distinct armorial bearings, and noting that there is no record of the Gresleys holding land in Lancashire.[4] Later historians such as James Tait and Falconer Madan supported Whatton's refutation of this purported origin.[5][6]

In The History of the County Palatine and Duchy of Lancaster, James Croston identifies Albert Gresle as being Albert Bussel, brother of Lord Warin Bussel of Penwortham.[7] Tait states in Mediæval Manchester and the beginnings of Lancashire that "this wild identification affords a good illustration of the mingled ignorance and rashness of too many local antiquaries".[7]

Albert's surname likely originates from the Old French term greslet, meaning pock-marked or pitted. This was likely to be an attribute of either Albert himself, or one of the families earlier members.[8][9] In the Domesday book, he is also known as Albert crematus (Albert the Burnt).[10][11] It is difficult to tell whether this was either a previous family name, or merely a nickname.[12]

Career

Following the Norman Conquest of England, Roger the Poitevin granted Albert with lands in Norfolk, Lincoln, Nottingham, and in conjunction with Roger de Busli the Blackburn Hundred.[13][14]

Sometime after 1086, Albert resigned his fee in Blackburn, and instead obtained a grant of the manor of Manchester within the Salford Hundred.[8][9]

Albert was a witness to Roger de Poitevin's charter establishing the Lancaster Priory in 1094.[15]

References

  1. ^ "Cheshire, Page 16". Open Domesday. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
  2. ^ Whatton 1824, pp. 8–9.
  3. ^ Banks, Thomas Christopher (1807). The Dormant and Extinct Baronage of England: Or, An Historical and Genealogical Account of the Lives, Public Employments, and Most Memorable Actions of the English Nobility who Have Flourished from the Norman Conquest to the year 1806. Vol. 1. T. Bensley, Bolt Court, 1807. pp. 332–333.
  4. ^ Whatton 1824, p. 11.
  5. ^ Tait 1904, pp. 120–123.
  6. ^ Madan, Falconer (1899). The Gresleys of Drakelowe: An Account of the Family, and Notes of Its Connexions by Marriage and Descent from the Norman Conquest to the Present Day with Appendixes, Pedigrees and Illustrations. Oxford, Printed for subscribers [by H. Hart]. pp. 208–209.
  7. ^ a b Tait 1904, p. 123.
  8. ^ a b Farrer & Brownbill 1906, p. 326.
  9. ^ a b Moss, John (2019). Great British Family Names and Their History: What's in a Name?. Pen and Sword. ISBN 978-1526722812.
  10. ^ Palmer, John (31 July 2007). Statistics Notes for Suffolk. p. 61. Retrieved 20 February 2021 – via University of Hull.
  11. ^ "Suffolk, folio 68". Open Domesday. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
  12. ^ d'Anisy, Léchaudé (1842). Recherches sur le Domesday; ou, Liber censualis d'Angleterre [Domesday research; or, Liber censualis from England] (in French). Vol. 1. C.M. Lesaulnier. p. 95.
  13. ^ Whatton 1824, pp. 14–15.
  14. ^ "Albert Grelley". Open Domesday. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
  15. ^ Tait 1904, p. 124.

Bibliography

External links

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