Walter de Beauchamp (nobleman)
| Walter de Beauchamp | |
|---|---|
| Sheriff of Worcestershire | |
|
In office 1114 – c. 1130 |
|
| Preceded by | Osbert d'Abetot |
| Succeeded by | possibly Humphrey |
| Personal details | |
| Died | between 1130 and 1133 |
| Nationality | English |
| Spouse(s) | Emeline (?) |
| Children |
William de Beauchamp Stephen de Beauchamp (?) Walter de Beauchamp (?) |
| Residence | Elmley Castle |
Walter de Beauchamp (died between 1130 and 1133) was a medieval nobleman and Sheriff of Worcestershire. Married to the daughter of one of his predecessors as sheriff. Nothing is known for sure of his background before he appears as a witness to royal charters between 1108 and 1111. Beauchamp also inherited offices in the royal household from his father-in-law, and also appears to have been a royal forester. He and another nobleman divided some of the lands of his father-in-law, but disagreements about the division lasted until the 12th century between the two families. He died between 1130 and 1133, and one of his descendants later became Earl of Warwick.
Beauchamp is sometimes known as Walter de Beauchamp of Elmley, to distinguish him from the members of the Beauchamp family of Bedford. He married the daughter of Urse d'Abetot, who is usually named Emeline, although her name is not given in contemporary records. Urse d'Abetot was the Sheriff of Worcestershire from around 1069 to around 1108. Beauchamp may have been a tenant of his father-in-law prior to his marriage. Nothing is known for sure of Beauchamp's background before he first witnessed a royal charter sometime between 1108 and 1111. Some documents suggest that his father may have been named Peveral de Beauchamp and that he had a brother named William Peveral de Beauchamp, but the only identifiable Peveral is younger than Walter.
In the 1110s, Beauchamp became Sheriff of Worcestershire, holding the office until 1130. Some sources state he received the office in 1114, and others place the acquisition of the office between December 1113 and April 1116. Beauchamp inherited most of d'Abetot's lands and the hereditary office of Sheriff of Worcestershire when Roger d'Abetot, Urse's son, forfeited his lands and offices after being exiled by Henry I for murder. King Henry I of England granted Beauchamp the right to hunt wolves and foxes in the royal forests of Worcestershire. Along with the right to hunt in the royal forests came a grant of the right to keep pheasants on his own lands, and the right to fine anyone hunting the birds without his permission.
Because of the king's promotion of Beauchamp, he is considered to be one of Henry I's "new men".
...
Wikipedia