Geoffrey1

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Geoffrey Luttrell

b. 11... d. 1215-16

m. Frethesant Paynell, daughter of William Paynell

The following is an account from DUNSTER AND ITS LORDS by H. C. Maxwell-Lyte, 1882

"During the absence of Richard I in Palestine, this Geoffrey Luttrell took part in the unsuccessful rebellion of John, Earl of Mortain, and was consequently deprived of his estates in the county of Nottingham. He was reinstated, however, on the accession of the Earl of Mortain to the English throne, and from that time until his death he seems to have been constantly employed in the King's service.

In 1201, he was appointed one of the overseers of the expenses incurred in the enclosure of the royal park of Bolsover. In 1204, he was sent into Ireland with a recommendatory letter to the archbishops and bishops, and received ten pounds for his maintenance. In the following year he went to Poictiers in charge of the King's treasure, and in 1210, he held the responsible office of paymaster of the navy. In 1215, he was sent on an embassy to Pope Innocent III, partly to explain the arrangement that had been made about the dower of Queen Berengaria, and partly to denounce the barons who had extorted Magna Charta from the reluctant king. In one of these commissions he is styled 'nobilis vir'. He received several grants of land from his royal patron, but the real foundation of the future wealth of the Luttrell family was laid by his marriage with Frethesant, daughter and coheiress of William Paganel." Her inheritance included property in the counties of York, Nottingham and Lincoln.

Sir Geoffrey Luttrell appears to have died on his journey to Rome in 1216, leaving a widow and a son named Andrew, who was under age at the time."

From John Burke's "A Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Commoners of Great Britain and Ireland", Vol. 1. Henry Colburn, Page 142.

The family of LUTTRELL, or LOTERELL, was established in England by one of the chiefs in the Norman Conquest, whose name is to be found in the Roll of Battel Abbey.

In the reigns of HENRY I.* and King Stephen*, Sir John Luttrell held, in capite, the manor of Hoton Pagnel, in Yorkshire, which vested in his male descendants until the time of HENRY V*. when it devolved upon an heiress, who espoused John Scott, feudal lord of Calverley, and steward of the household to the Empress MAUD.

The estates of Sir Geoffry Luttrell, knt. in the counties of Derby, Leicester, Nottingham, and York, were confiscated in the reign of RICHARD I. for his adhesion to John, Earl of Morton, but they were restored upon the accession of that prince to the throne, as King JOHN. Sir Geoffry subsequently accompanied the king into Ireland, and obtained from the crown a grant of Luttrellstown, in that kingdom. The descendants of Sir Geoffry were afterwards feudal barons of Irnham, and one of those barons, ROBERT DE LUTTRELL, had summons to parliament on the 24th June, and 2nd November, 1295. (See Burke's Extinct and Dormant Peerage.)

*Webmaster's note: Henry I died 1135 A. D. The reign of Stephen was 1135-1154. The reign of Henry V was 1413-1422.

From Ball's "A History of the County Dublin, Parish of Clonsilla"

"Luttrell's connection with Ireland appears to have begun in the year 1204. In the beginning of that year he was appointed on a commission to settle the disputes then existing in Ireland between the justiciary and the Anglo-Norman magnates of this country, and before its close he was named as a member of an advisory commission sent to this country with an injunction to the authorities to place undoubted reliance on all that the commissioners might expound concerning the King's Irish affairs.

Six years later, in the summer of 1210, he accompanied King John on that monarch's visit to Ireland, when we find him acting as one of the paymasters of the mariners and galleymen employed in the large fleet required for the expedition, and forming one of the King's train at Kells, Carlingford, and Holywood, as well as at Dublin.

Hardly had the King returned to England when Sir Geoffrey Luttrell was once more sent to this country on a mission of state, and during the next few years we find him corresponding from this country with the King by means of a trusty messenger whom the King rewarded with liberality for his arduous services.

In 1215 he was again in England in attendance on the King's person, advising King John in all matters relating to his Irish kingdom and witnessing many acts of the fling concerning this country. Luttrell received several marks of royal favour, including the honour of knighthood, and as a culminating proof of the trust reposed in him was sent on an embassy to the Pope. While on this mission his death took place.

There is little doubt that from Sir Geoffrey Luttrell the Irish, as well as the Somersetshire Luttrells are descended either in a direct or collateral line. His only son is said to have succeded to his English estates, and in connection with his Irish property a daughter, who was given by the King in marriage to Philip Marc, is mentioned as his heir, but he purchased in Ireland shortly before his death the marriage of the second daughter of Hugh de Tuit, whose hand he probably conferred on some male representative of his family in this country."

On the National Society Magna Charta Dames and Barons webpage, http://www.magnacharta.org/magna_charta_barons_at_runnymede.htm,

Geoffrey de Luttrell is listed as "one of the Barons in arms to procure the Great Charter of Liberties from King John A.D.1215".

Webmaster's note: Is this realistic considering the close relationship Geoffrey had with King John for many years (see above references)?

If it is true that Geoffrey Luttrell was one of those at Runnymede in support of Magna Charta (opposed to the King), would King John have subsequently sent him on the "embassy to the Pope" (the Pope sided with King John and ex-communicated all of the Barons who forced the King to sign the Magna Charta)?

Could Geoffrey Luttrell's death, while on this "embassy to the Pope" be a result of his support for Magna Charta, in defiance of King John?

In addition to his properties in England and holdings at/near Luttrellstown, County Dublin, Ireland, Geoffrey Luttrell was for a time placed in control of the great castle Dunamase.

In 1210 King John took Dunamase into his own hands as punishment for Marshal's supposed half hearted support for John's expedition against the de Lacys. For a time it was in the hands of Geoffrey Luttrell but it was restored to Marshal in 1215. Despite their disagreements Marshal proved loyal to the king, standing by him at Magna Carta and ending his days as Regent during the minority of John's son Henry III.
http://www.clanomore.com/dunarch.htm

1215 - The King commands Godfrey (sic) Luterel to deliver to Wm . Marshal Earl of Pembroke, or his emissary, the castle of Damas. The King commands the justiciary of Ireland to order Godfrey Luterel to deliver to William Marshall, Earl of Pembroke, the castle of Dunmath, which the K has restored to him as his right, the K. has already so commanded Godfrey. From "The Sources for the History of Dunamase Castle in the Medieval period", By: B.J. Hodkinson. (CDI, Vol. 1, Nos. 644 & 647, dated Aug. 20th and 31st, respectively. See also 664, 684 and 685, which show the handover was not done quickly or willingly) CDI = Calendar of Documents Relating to Ireland. (Sweetman 1875-86).

Was Dunamase taken from Geoffrey Luttrell in response to Geoffrey's opposition to King John at Magna Charta?

Other properties of Geoffrey Luttrell

From http://www.clarelibrary.ie/eolas/coclare/places/cratloe_history.htm

The name CRATLOE is derived from the gaelic CREAT-SHAILEÓG, meaning the sallow wood, or the land of sallow trees. At one stage the Cratloe Woods were famous for primeval oak woods. In the ninth century the Ulstermen invaded the MacNamara territory and carried home oak timbers to roof the Royal palace of Aileach near Derry. Cratloe also supplied the oak beams for the roof of Westminster Hall, London and the Royal Palace in Amsterdam. In 1215 Geoffrey Lutterel was granted "the land of Crateluach" by King John for thirty ounces of silver. From that time the great woods of Cratloe were gradually cut away. In more recent times an 800 acre state forest has been planted on the slopes of Woodcock Hill.

Maxwell-Lyte, in "A History of Dunster", shows "twenty ounces of gold. . .for property at Cratelach in Thomond."
(Ireland) "The King also granted to him some land at Croxton, in Leicestershire." And, "As a reward for personal services, Sir Geoffrey Luttrell received from King John grants for life of the houses of the Jew, Isaac of York, at Oxford and Northampton, and those of another Jew named Bonnechose at the former place".