concerns

This Thomas appears to be the same as Sir Thomas Holbrooke. Are they supposed to be the same person? Further research is warranted.

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Surname has also been reported to be Holbrook.

content to clean up

Court records show an order to arrest Sir Thomas for an assault on John de Loudham.

The site on which the castle stands has been used in the Iron Age, Roman period and by the invading Saxons also used by the Normans, Tudors and also used in the Medieval Period. This is because its position on elevated ground provides clear views of the Welland Valley from a strong defensible location.

William the Conqueror ordered the construction of a wooden Motte and Bailey at Rockingham in the 11th century shortly after the Norman Invasion of Britain. Within three decades, William II replaced it with a stone castle. A stone keep was added to the large motte and the outer bailey was enclosed by a curtain wall. The castle was then used as a Royal retreat throughout the Norman and Plantagenet periods. Nearby Rockingham Forest was especially good for hunting wild boar and deer.

In 1270 Henry III strengthened the castle with the addition of a twin D-tower gatehouse. But less than a century later Edward III became the last monarch to visit the castle while it was possessed by The Crown.

1. William de Holbrook, named in 1267 as father of the following:

2. Sir Richard de Holbrook, received grant of free warren at Tattingston, Bentley, Foxhole etc, 16 June 1267 (Cart. R.); Keeper of Rockingham Castle; died circa 1291:

27 February 1291: Order to the esceator on this side of the Trent to take into the King's hand the goods late of Richard de Holebrok deceased (Cal. Fine Rolls)

31 May 1291: Order to Malcolm de Harleye, escheator beyond Trent, after taking from the executors of the will of Richard de Holebrok for rendering his debts, to permit them to have free administration of his debts. (Ibid)

married Isabella (living 26 April 1286 - Knights of Edward I); issue:

3. Sir John de Holbrook, heir to his father, 1291:

27 March 1291: Order to Malcolm de Harleye, escheator beyond Trent, after taking security from John son and heir of Richard de Holebrok for rendering his said father's debts and accounts for the time his father was constable of Rokingham Castle and keeper of the forest there, not to meddle hereafter in the lands late of Richard (Cal. Fine Rolls)

held land at Stouttone, Suffolk, of Robert de Ufford, 12 November 26 Edward I [Cal. IPMs Vol. 3 #469 p 354];

said to have died 1306; married Alice, died circa 1309:

IPM: Alice late the wife of John de Holebrok the elder: writ dated 4 December 3 Ed II Suffolk: 17 December 3 Edward II: Naketone manor and advowson for life of the inheritance of the said John; Foxhole: tenements called Tirellisfe [Tirrellsfee]; John de Holebrok son of the said John and Alice aged 20 on St Andrew's Day [30 November] 3 Edward II is next heir; Suffolk: 19 December 3 Edward II: Holbrook manor and advowson; advowson of Freston church; at Burstalle, 37 acres arable, 8 acres pasture by service of her proportion of 3 3/4 knights fees which Joan de Rocheford, Bartholomew de Elmham and the said Alice held in Debenham, Sekford, Scarmston and Burstalle; Langiston in Sprouton manor; Braunford manor; Sproutone; Tattingston manor and advowson; meadow and reant in Braham; rent in Coppedok; rent in Belstede; moiety of advowson of Wenham and same of Holton; rent in Capele, and in Stottone, and in Chelmenton, and Wolferston, and Freston; messuage and 90 acres arable and 1 pasture in Bentley. [Cal. IPMs Vol 5 #215 p 115]

Issue:

4. John de Holbrook, born 30 November 1289; heir to his mother, 1309; died circa 1316:

IPM: John de Holebrok: writ issued 12 October 10 Edward II: Suffolk: 15 November 10 Edward II: Holbrook manor; Tattingston manor; rent in Alton and Brantham; manor in Bentley; messuage and land in Sprouton; 20 acres of land and 4 acres of wood in Braunford; tenement called Frankisfee in Burstalle; 1 acre in Brende Wenham; messuage at Wassebrok; John his son aged 3 at Whitsun last is his heir [Cal. IPMs Vol 6 #59 pp 44-45]

probably married Petronilla:

"3 parts of a knight's fee in Tunstal, Suffolk held by Petronilla de Holbrook, 22 December 10 Edward II" [Cal. IPMs Vol 6 #58: Robert de Ufford]

"55 acres of arable, 3 acres meadow, 3 acres pasture at Stratford, Suffolk, held of Petronilla late the wife of John de Holebrok, 6 April 17 Edward II" [Cal. IPMs Vol 6 #461: Thomas Baldewyne of Bergholt].

Issue:

5. John de Holbrook, born circa 1313; heir to his father, 1316; his wardship granted to Alice, Countess Marshal, and thence transferred to Margaret and Peter de Maulay [PROCAT SC 8/127/6345 dated circa 1324]

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It is this latest IPM which causes our major problem, for it names the heir in 1316 as being a third John de Holbrook, not Thomas de Holbrook, whom we know as the subsequent lord of Holbrook and the other estates named above. The existence of this third John is confirmed by the wardship suit which Mardi uncovered. Perhaps this is where the pedigree from the Plea Rolls comes into play.

In the suit of 6 Richard II at p 143 of Pedigrees from the Plea Rolls, Thomas de Holbrook is said to be son of "John de Holbrook ff Edward I" and grandson of Richard de Holbrook, knight. This would give us the following:

3. Sir John de Holbrook, d 1306; married Alice, died 1309; issue:

4a. John de Holbrook, 1289-1316; married Petronilla; issue:

5. John de Holbrook, born 1313; died without issue [perhaps he married the Margaret to whom Copinger refers as having "claimed a moiety of the manor of Colvile in dower" as widow of John de Holbrook, 1330, without citing the reference]

4b. Sir Thomas de Holbrook, succeeded to Colvile's manor, 1330, and presented to Rendlesham, 1332 [Copinger]; died 1360; left issue, who succeeded to Holbrook etc.