Mon arbre généalogique

Keats-Rohan records that the Malet family was established at Graville-Sainte-Honorine, now a suburb of Le Havre in the present-day French département of Seine-Inférieure, in the Pays de Caux in Normandy by the beginning of the 11th century and also held land near Caen[455]. Their importance in the area is gauged by their construction of a castle there in the early decades of the 11th century, one of only a small group built in the Pays de Caux before 1066[456]. The family holdings which are recorded in Domesday Book show that the participation of Guillaume Malet in the invasion of England was rewarded with extensive land in the north of Suffolk, which eventually formed the honour of Eye which passed to his son Robert [I].

GUILLAUME [I] Malet (-[Bec Abbey] before 1086). Domesday Book records that "William Malet had 5 carucates of land to the geld" in Alkborough, Lincolnshire, and that "Ivo" (identified as Ivo Taillebois, first husband of Lucy, relative of the Malet family see below) was the current holder[748]. Brown indicates that the reference to assessment "to the geld" suggests that Guillaume may have been the holder of the land before the conquest[749]. A history of the Crispin family names "Esiliam matrem Willelmi Malet" as daughter of Gilbert Crespin, adding that Guillaume ended his life at Bec abbey[750]. The Chronique de Normandie, based on le Roman de Rou, names "Guillaume de Malet" among those who took part in the conquest of England in 1066[751]. Orderic Vitalis names "Guillelmo agnomine Maleto" was charged with the temporary burial of the body of King Harold II on the shore after the battle of Hastings[752]. “…Willielmus Maleit…” witnessed the charter dated to [1067] under which William I King of England confirmed the privileges of Peterborough abbey[753]. Sheriff of York: Simeon of Durham records that "Willelmo Malet qui tunc vicecomitatum gerebat cum sua coniuge et duobus liberis" were made prisoner by the Danes after the capture of the city of York by King William’s forces, dated to 1069[754]. Orderic Vitalis records that “Rodbertus Ricardi filius Eboracensis præsidii custos” was killed, that “Marius Suenus, Gaius Patricius, Edgarus Adelinus, Archillus et quatuor filii Karoli” attacked “munitionem regis in Eboraco”, and that “Willelmus cognomento Maletus, præses castrensis regi” announced to the king that he would be forced to withdraw unless reinforcements were sent, dated to 1069[755]. The cartulary of Préaux Saint-Pierre includes a document which records that "William Maleth" approved a donation to the monastery by "a certain knight Ralf" and donated property at Butot-en-Caux "that he might be made a monk, which was done", and that "when William was dead, Robert his son" confirmed his father’s gift[756]. Freeman suggests that William Malet died on campaign in Ely, dated to[1070/71], on thebasis of two passages in Domesday Book which record land held "in die quo pater R. Malet ivit in servitium Regis…ubi mortuus est" and "pater suus…tenuit quando ivit in maresc [marshland]" (inHappisburgh, Norfolk)[757]. Round suggests that the interpretation of the passage in question is too precise and in any case that the word "maresc" may in any case represent a mistranscription for "Eurvic", indicating York, which, if correct, would negate the theory entirely[758]. It appears that the most that can definitively be concluded from these passages is the Guillaume Malet died while on the king’s service, some time before 1086. This conclusion appears to be contradicted by the history of the Crispin family which states that Guillaume ended his life at Bec abbey[759]. mESILIA, daughter of --- (-after 1086). “Robertus Malet” founded Eye priory, for the souls of “patris mei Willelmi Malet et matris meæ Hesiliæ” who became a nun there, by undated charter dated to the reign of William I King of England[760]. Domesday Book records “Robert Malet’s mother” holding land from Robert Malet in Suffolk[761]. [same person as…?ESILIA, daughter of GILBERT Crispin & his wife Gunnora ---. The De nobili genere Crispinorum names "Emmam, Petri de Condeto genetricem, atque Esiliam, matrem Willelmi Malet" as the two daughters of "Gislebertus…Crispini cognomen" and his wife[762]. However, the wife of her supposed son Guillaume Malet is recorded in a later primary source with the same name so it is possible that the De nobili genere confuses Guillaume’s mother with his wife.] Simeon of Durham records that "Willelmo Malet qui tunc vicecomitatum gerebat cum sua coniuge et duobus liberis" were made prisoner by the Danes after the capture of the city of York by King William’s forces, dated to 1069[763]. Guillaume [I] & his wife had [five] children