 Ranulph des Gernons IV Earl of Chester, son of Ranulph III le Meschines Earl of Chester and Lucy Taillebois Countess of Chester.Born 1100 at Gernon Castle, Normandy, France, died Dec 16, 1153, 52 or 53 years Ranulph or Randle II, 4th Earl of Chester, surnamed Gernouns, because he was born at Gernon Castle in Normandy, succeeded his father in the Earldom of Chester and in all his patrimony, both in England and Normandy. This nobleman was a leading military character, and took an active part with the Empress Maud and Prince Henry, her son, against King Stephen. Later Ranulph II became reconciled with Stephen. He came to the King and desired pardon for his rebellion at Lincoln and for seizing his sovereign's possessions and thereupon was received into favour. In further testimony he helped the king's forces and gallantly assaulted the town of Bedford, and delivered it into Stephen's hands. But for all this friendship, Randle was suspected of Stephen because he surrendered not the castles and rents which he had taken, and because of the Earl's wavering and unstable mind, so that neither the king nor his prime councillors durst rely on him. Seeing himself suspected of treason he later turned against Stephen. He died Dec. 16, 1153, distrusted by both sides and supposed to have been poisoned by his wife and William Peveral of Nottingham. Maud, his widow, died July 29, 1189. She was daughter of Robert, son of Henry I. Married/ Related to:  Maud FitzRobert, daughter of Robert de Caen Earl of Gloucester and Mabel Fitzhamon.Born 1106 at Bristol, Gloucestershire, England, died Jul 29, 1189, 82 or 83 years Child: 1. Hugh de Keveliock V Earl of ChesterBorn 1122 at Kevelioc, Monmouth, Wales, died Jun 30, 1181 at Leeke, Stafford, England, 58 or 59 years Hugh II, 5th Earl of Chester, surnamed Keveliock or Cyveliok, because he was born 1147 at Kevelioc, Co. Merioneth, Wales. He succeeded his father in the Earldom of Chester. This nobleman joined in the rebellion with Robert, Earl of Leicester, and the King of Scots against King Henry II, and in support of that monarch's son, Prince Henry's pretentions to the crown. In which proceeding he was taken prisoner with the Earl of Leicester at Almwick, but obtained his freedom soon afterwards, upon the reconciliation of the king with the young prince. During troublesome times following his lands were taken from him, but they were restored when public tranquility was restored. He died at Leeks, Co. Stafford, in 1181, aged about 34. His lordship married Bertred, daughter of Simon de Montfort, Earl of Evereaux in Normandy. They were married 1169 when Bertred was just 14 years old. She died in 1227, aged about 71. They had a son, Randle III, who succeeded his father as Earl of Chester, but he died sine prole 1232. He had the Earldom of Lincoln from his great-grandmother Lucia, and he resigned this Earldom to his sister Hawise about 1230-1. She was the widow of Robert de Quincey, and their daughter Margaret married John de Lacy, to whom the Earldom of Lincoln was confirmed Nov. 22, 1232. He was Surety for Magna Charta and his daughter Maud married Richard de Clare, son of Gilbert son of Richard de Clare, last two Sureties, and from whom you descend through Robert Abell and John Whitney. Beside Randle III and Hawise, Hugh and Bertred had Mabil, married Hugh de Albini, died sine prole. | |||