Guncelin Badlesmere

Sir Guncelin Badlesmere, also written as Gunselm, was an English judge and administrator from Kent.

Origins

From a family of minor gentry in the village of Badlesmere, who had served as knights and judges, he was born before 1243 as the son of Batholomew Badlesmere.

Career

Attached to the royal household as a knight banneret, in 1274 he replaced Reginald [de Grey, 1st Baron Grey de Wilton|Reginald Grey] as Justice of Chester on an annual salary of 67 pounds. To this responsibility was added in 1278 the custody of Flint Castle and Rhuddlan Castle, plus another 67 pounds a year. He remained justice of Chester until 1281, when Grey was reappointed. In 1285 and in 1297 he is recorded as serving overseas and in 1297 he was one of the witnesses to the ceremony in Tonbridge Castle at which John Langton was invested with the royal seal as Lord Chancellor.
He died shortly before 13 April 1301, and was reportedly buried in Badlesmere church, where a wooden cross-legged effigy was erected.

Family

The name of his wife is in fact unknown, though older accounts used to name her as Margaret or Joan FitzBernard, and sources mention three children:

Bartholomew de Badlesmere, 1st [Baron Badlesmere|Bartholomew Badlesmere, 1st Baron Badlesmere], his heir, who married Margaret Clare.
Maud Badlesmere, who married Robert Burghersh, 1st Baron Burghersh.
Joan Badlesmere, who married John Northwood, 1st Baron Northwood. She is commemorated by a brass in the church of Minster-in-Sheppey.