User:OliviaKnight/Roger Godberd

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Roger Godberd was born in the beginning of the 1230s and died in the early 1290s at around 60 years of age. He had at least two brothers named William and Geoffrey but not much is recorded about the two. His father died early in his life and his mother remarried after his death to a man named Anketil de Swaninton. Roger Godberd was a tenant of Robert de Ferrers, who had held land at Swannington, in north-west Leicestershire. His step-father and mother took possesion over the family's holdings and in the 1250's cut down all 60 oak trees on their property to make money. Roger was unhappy with the decision and felt his family had wasted his inheritance leading him to stand up for himself against his parental figures. Because of his young age, he received no fines for making false accusations against his mother and his step-father. Roger was thought to have been married but his wife's name is unknown, although there is some speculation that he married a women from the neighboring Thringstone family. He had at least two children, one son named Roger and one daughter named Diva. His son Roger married Huelyna, the daughter of Robert de Threngeston who was apart of the Thringstone family.

In 1260 Roger was involved in another dispute regarding land, he had leased Swannington manor to a Jordan le Fleming for ten years but within 12 months had forcibly removed him from the property. Roger was supposed to appear in court for this incident and to respond to Jordan's complaints but did not. He was prepared to act illegaly and recruit others in order to resort to violence to solve the complaints brought by Jordan. The reason behind him leasing his land is still unknown but some have thought that it was because he became a member of the garrison of Nottingham Castle sometime in the late 1250s to early and that his new military responsibilities kept him from running the property properly so he leased it to Jordan le Fleming while he was away.

Because of Roger's association with the garrison he recieved he recieved protection for him and his family that allowed Roger to go back to his lands until Easter with the condition that he would stand trial in the King's court if anyone were to claim he tresspassed. It was thought that this was because of his dispute with Jordan le Fleming but others suggest it was because of his association with the Battle of Lewes.