The Skaggs-Files

Following copied from website at [http://www.moonrakers.com/genealogy/baskerville/baskerville_family_histor y.htm]:

BASKERVILLE FAMILY HISTORY

Supplied by Brian Erwin

Edited by Peter Baskerville Rance

[P.B.R. Madeline Hopton's account at this point appears to leave out a number of generations, which are shown on most visitations available, so I have included the missing inheritors]. Ralph (died 1148) had a son, Sir Roger [or Robert] (died 1176) who married Juliana daughter of Nicholas de Stafford, Their son, Ralph of Eardisley (died 1194) married Ann Owen, they had a son Roger of Eardisley who married Bridget Hunterston, whose son Walter of Eardisley married Elizabeth Pembrugge. They had a son WALTER OF EARDISLEY (alive in 1277) who married SUSANNA CRIGDON and who's first son, Sir Roger married a daughter and heiress of Rothes de Gros, knight of Orcop, which manor remained in the family till the year 1528. After Roger came three Sir Walter's in succession, the last of them left two daughters. After them the castle and manor went to Sir Walter and Susanna's second son Sir Richard. He married the daughter of Sir Solers. Another brother George, became lord of Lawton and Picthorne in the County of Salop, whose descendants were lords of Picthorne for three generations, and then ended with an heiress.

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During this period there was activity concerning Eardisley Castle, whose overlords were the Earls of Hereford (the de Bohun family at this time). Apparently the Welsh sacked the castle and Roger de Clifford held it for a few years. The following was copied from a Hereford County website on Eardisley Castle, http://www.smr.herefordshire.gov.uk/castles/castlesdata_az/eardisley.htm:

EARDISLEY CASTLE.

Foundation and history of the site.

1086: Mentioned in the Domesday Survey as being held by Robert from Roger de Lacy. The land did not pay tax, or any customary dues, nor lies in any Hundred. A fortified house was there. In lordship 1 plough; 2 slaves and 1 Welshman who pays 3s.

1183: It is known as a castle as early as this year and in 1216, and the beginning of the reign of Henry III, it is found in a list of Herefordshire Castles.

1262: The Welsh were in open rebellion and moving towards Hereford plundered the castles of Webley (sic. Weobley) and Eardisley.

1263: Roger de Clifford was in possession and it was here that he imprisoned the foreign Bishop of Hereford, Peter de Aquablanca.

1272: William Baskerville was licensed to hold services in the chapel.

The castle was probably the chief residence of the Baskervilles in 1272. The Baskerville family had two members of great note: Sir John who as a boy, fought for the King at Agincourt and James who was one of three Herefordshire heroes made Knight Bannerets by Henry VII after the battle of Stoke in 1487.

The Baskervilles fortunes changed and poverty crept in, at the end of their line the castle was sold to William Barnesley.

1277: Eardisley Castle was taken from the de Bohuns by Edward I and given to Roger de Clifford, the de Bohuns’ later seized it back.

1372: The de Bohuns, Earls of Hereford were overlords of Eardisley until this date, when the earldom of Hereford ceased to be and Eardisley was passed over into the Crown

1403: Henry IV ordered the castle to be fortified against attacks by Owain Glyn Dwr, even though by 1374 the castle had already been ruined.

1642-6: The castle was in the possesion of Sir Humphrey Baskerville a Royalist and in the Civil War was burnt down to the ground with only one of the gatehouse escaping ruin. A member of the Baskerville family was living in this ruin in 1670 in comparable poverty