Feudal barony of Trematon


The Feudal barony of Trematon was one of the three feudal baronies in Cornwall which existed during the mediaeval era. Its caput was at Trematon Castle, Cornwall. In 1166 it comprised 60 knight's fees, thus about 60 separate manors.

Descent

de Vautort

The barony of Trematon was unusual in that unlike most other British feudal baronies it was not held from the king in-chief but from the descendants of Robert, Count of Mortain, half-brother of King William the Conqueror. It was held for several generations by the de Vautort family, Latinized as de Valletorta, which was once thought to come from Vautorte in Maine, but has since been shown to originate in Torteval in Normandy. The descent of the barony was as follows:
  • Godfrey de Vautort, held the Honour of Trematon from the Count of Mortain in 1084.
  • Reginald I de Vautort, was by 1086 a major tenant of Robert, Count of Mortain, with 57 manors centred on the castle and market of Trematon.
  • Roger I de Vautort, his son and heir, married Emma.
  • Ralph I de Vautort, his son and heir, who in 1166 according to the Cartae Baronum held 59 knight's fees from the earl of Cornwall, and one knight's fee in-chief.
  • Roger II de Vautort, his son and heir.
  • Reginald II de Vautort, his son and heir, married Joan, daughter of Thomas Basset of Headington.
  • Ralph II de Vautort, his brother, married Joan, daughter of Reginald de Dunstanville, Earl of Cornwall.
  • Reginald III de Vautort, his son and heir, died young without children.
  • Roger III de Vautort, his uncle, after disposing of most of the family's holdings and leaving vast debts, died childless.
What was left of the estates eventually found its way to the descendants of two daughters of Ralph I de Vautort. A younger son of Reginald I de Vautort was Joel de Vautort, whose descendants held lands in Somerset centred on the manor of Currypool in Spaxton until about 1332.

Earls of Cornwall