The Hissem-Montague Family

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Hugh Lupus, the 1st Baron of Chester, nominated 7 or 8 of his principal Barons to form a Parliament to help him govern his extended territory. The title of each of these Barons was hereditary, and it was taken from his chief place of residence. Foremost in precedence was Nigel, the 1st Baron of Halton.

Or Neal or Lenoir. The First Baron of Halton. He was appointed by Hugh Lupus, the Earl of Chester, in 1070 and quickly erected a Motte and Bailey castle from which he could watch the Cheshire plain, the south Lancashire plain, the Welsh hills and for invaders using the river Mersey. He became Constable and Earl-Marshall of Chester. He died around 1080.

The Second Baron. He was Constable of Chester and Lord of Flamborough. He married the daugther of Yorfrid, the Saxon Baron of Widnes, and inherited his lands, which were on the other side of the Mersey river, upon Yorfrid's death. He died in 1134 and was buried in Chester.

The Third Baron. He rebuilt the castle in stone. He died in Normandy before 1150, having no male heir. His estates were divided between his two daughters.

She was the sister [elder daughter?] of the 3rd Baron and heir upon his death. She married Eustace FitzJohn who became the Fourth Baron. She was his 2nd wife. He was the son of John "Monoculous" [I guess he lost an eye somehow], and died in battle, fighting the Welsh in 1157.

The Fifth Baron, he was the son of the 4th baron by his second wife, Agnes FitzNigel. The Constable of Chester. He married Albreda De Lisoures [Aubrey de Lisours], the daugther of Robert [or Eudo] de Lisoures [Lizours] and Albreda [de Vesci?], widow of Henry de Lacy, who was herself the daughter of Robert de Lacy and Matilda du Perche. Albreda was the heir of her cousin, Robert de Lacy, the Lord of Pontefract Castle and the last of his line.

The Sixth Baron. He was born in 1150 in Lincolnshire. He married Alice de Vere (de Mandeville). Alice was born about 1150 in Rycott, Oxfordshire, England. She is the daughter of Roger FitzRichard and Alice de Vere. John took the name of Lacy in 1194 on inheriting the possessions of Robert Lacy, Lord of Pontefract. He was Baron of Pontefract and Halton Castles, Constable of Chester, and Lord of Flamborough. He died on 11 October 1190 in Tyre while on crusade. His children were,
Roger
Richard
Peter
Sarah
Albreda

The Seventh Baron. The Constable of Chester, Justicar of England, and Baron of Pontefract. The FitzEustace family began to use the more famous de Lacey name at that time.

He was born in about 1171 in Lincolnshire. He married Maud (Mathilde) de Clare. Maud was born about 1180 in Lincoln. She was the daughter of Earl Richard de Clare, the Earl of Gloucester, and Amice Fitzrobert. She died in 1213. I've recently been told that this is incorrect.

"You are confusing the de Clare with de Clere, two different families. Matilda de Clere born 1184, born in Sinnington, Yorkshire, England was the daughter of Ralph III de Clere and mother unknown. Ralph likewise was born in Sinnington, Yorkshire. A lot of people confuse the de Clere family and the de Clare family, but no relation." - from Maureen Lavis

A noted warrior and friend of Richard I. In 1192 Roger fought alongside King Richard at the siege of Acre. The Lord of Pontefract Castle from 1193 to 1211. Roger was castellan of Chateau Galliard, Richard I's famed castle in Normandy, when Phillip II of France laid siege to it in 1203-1204. Richard I of England built Chateau Galliard specifically to defend western Normandy from the French, and the signifigance of the siege is that it determined whether England or France would control Normandy. Phillip said that he would take the castle even if its walls were made of steel. Richard retorted that he would hold it even if its walls were made of butter. Roger de Lacy lost the contest, but put up an heroic struggle. He died in 1211/2 in Pontefract, Yorkshire.

"About this time [1192] Ranulph, Earl of Chester, having entered Wales at the head of some forces, was compelled to shut himself up in the Castle of Rothelan, and found it necessary to send for aid to Roger, the constable. Hugh Lupus, the Ist Earl of Chester, in his charter of foundation of the abbey of St. Werberg at Chester, had given a privilege to the frequenters of the Chester fair "that they should not be apprehended for theft, or any other offence during the time of the fair, unless the crime was committed therein". Thus the fair was of course made the resort of thieves and vagabonds from all parts of the country. When Roger de Lacie as constable marched to the relief of the Earl, he took with him a great company of people which he had collected at the fair, consisting of minstrels and loose characters of all descriptions, forming altogether so numerous a body that the besiegers of the Castle, at their approach, mistaking them for soldiers, immediately surrendered. For this timely service the Earl of Chester conferred upon Baron Lacie and his heirs, the patronage of all the minstrels in those parts, which patronage the constable transferred to his steward, Outton, and his heirs." - from page 88-89 "Magna Charta"

His children were,
Robert de Lacy, hostage for his father's fidelity to King John. Released in 1204, he died between 1206 and 1212.
John de Lacy (c1192-1240), afterwards Earl of Lincoln
Roger de Lacy (1194)

The Eighth Baron. He was born after 1192 in Lincolnshire. Of Hatton. First Earl of Lincoln, Baron of Pontefract, Constable of Chester. He was Lord of Pontefract Castle from 1211 to 1240. He married Margaret, the daughter and coheiress of Robert de Quincy, Earl of Winchester, and Hawys, 4th sister and coheiress of Randal de Bludeville, Earl of Chester and Lincoln. He was created an Earl of Lincoln on 23 November 1232 in right of his wife.

John joined the Baron's Revolt and forced King John to sign the Magna Carta at Runnymede. He was also one of the 25 Barons who were responsible for seeing that the King kept to the charter. He was excommunicated by the Pope for this. He was bribed to support the King. John served as Constable of Chester and Sheriff of Cheshire. He went on a crusade in 1218. John died in 1240.

The Ninth Baron. A minor at his father's death, he was educated at Court and married Alice de Saluces, the daughter of a nobleman of Provence, and a relation of the Queen. The Constable of Chester. The Lord of Pontefract Castle from 1240 to 1258. He died on 5 June 1258, predeceasing his mother and never assumed the title of Earl of Lincoln.

The Tenth Baron and known as "the last and greatest man of his line." He was Lord of Pontefract Castle from 1258 to 1310. Henry became very powerful. It was around this time that a William de Lacey married the sole heir of Roger de Gernet de Heysham.

He was Earl of Lincoln and Salisbury, Constable of Chester, Baron of Halton, Pontefract, Blackburnshire, Roos, and Rowcynock, Lord Protector of England. A Chief Councilor and friend to King Edward I, he was protector of the realm while Edward fought in Scotland. While Henry had been faithful to Edward I, during the reign of Edward II he defected to the opposition because of he did not approve of Piers Gaveston, the King's favorite and paramour.

He married Margaret, the daughter of Sir William Longespee. Henry's sons, Edmund and John, both of whom died young, one drowned when he fell down a well at Denbigh Castle and the other son fell from Pontefract Castle roof while running along the leads. His title and possessions, including the Barony of Halton, passed to his sole surviving daughter, Alice, and then to her husband, Thomas Plantagenet, the Earl of Lancaster. Henry died at his home in London in 1310. This house became Lincoln's Inn, now one of the Inns of Court. He was buried in St Paul's Cathedral.

Alice de Lacey married Thomas Plantagenet, Earl of Lancaster and uncle to Edward II, who became the 11th baron. He was Lord of Pontefract Castle from 1310 to 1322. He rebelled against his cousin, Edward II, in 1322. He was beheaded for this treason and his estates were forfeited to the crown and has been known since as the Fee of Halton. He had no heirs.

Heavily attacked during the Civil War, by 1650 Halton castle was left in ruins.

"John de Latimer his estate in Rishton in course of succession came to Warine Latimer, who by inquisition taken after his death in the twenty third year of Edward III [1350] was certified to hold it of the heir of William de Lacy." This William de Lacey appears to descend from John de Lacey.

"FitzUrse left only daughters, one of whom was wife of a fitzBaldwin of Rhyd-y-gors, Pembrokshire to whose family she brought Montgomery Castle. According to Welsh genealogies, William fitzBaldwin's daughter married the son of Walter or William de Lacy who became lord of Rhyd-y-gors and Menorgain and took his surname of Gwyntwr or Winter from Castell Gwyn." This would be around 1175-1200.

Circa 1450: A William de Lacey was amongst the rebels of Simon de Montfort against Edward III who were executed for their treason.

Steve Hissem
San Diego, California