DREUX [I] de Mello, son of GILBERT [I] de Mello & his wife --- ([1070/80]-after [1117/18]). A charter dated to before 1106 records a donation to the priory of Saint-Leu d’Esserent, guaranteed by "Gislebertus de Marlo et filius eius Drogo", witnessed by "Philippo cognomento Compains", and the subsequent challenge of the donation and settlement of the challenge[1217]. His very approximate birth date range is calculated by working back from the birth date range of his grandson Guillaume. The approximate nature of the estimate must be emphasised. Nevertheless, it is useful in dismissing Depoin’s hypothesis concerning the existence of a Gilbert [II] de Mello who he suggests was the son of Dreux [I] and father of the two brothers Guillaume and Yves who are shown below as younger children of Gilbert [I][1218]. Seigneur de Mello. A charter dated to [1117/18] “tempore Rainoldi comitis” [Renaud [II] de Clermont Comte d’Amiens] relates to "ecclesie...Ambianensi beate Marie et sancti Firmini...apud Nogentel, villam Belvacensem" witnessed by "...Drogone de Merloaco, Guidone fratre suo"[1219].
m (before 1101) RICHILDE de Clermont, daughter of HUGUES Comte de Clermont-en-Beauvaisis & his wife Marguerite de Ramerupt. The primary source which confirms her parentage and marriage has not yet been identified. Depoin states that the Histoire de Vézelay, by Hugues le Poitevin, names “Dreux de Mello...et...Richeud, fille de Hugues de Mouchy, sœur de Renaud II de Clermont et de Félicie reine d’Aragon” as the parents of Guillaume abbé de Vézelay[1220]. However, the passage in question has not been found in the edition of the Histoire which was consulted during the preparation of the present document. The introduction of the name Renaud into the family after this marriage suggests that the affiliation may be correct. A charter which confirms donations to the abbey of Saint-Paul-en-Beauvaisis includes the donation of “medietatem altaris de Camberonne” made by “Richeldis de Merloto” and of “aliam medietatem” by “Berneri de Claromonte” (the latter not yet having been identified, although his name and joint ownership of the property in question suggests a relationship between Richilde and the Clermont family)[1221].
Dreux [I] & his wife had [five] children