FitzMartin Family History & Genealogy

the lead to provide an accessible overview of all important aspects of the article. (February 2013) Robert fitz Martin (c. 10?? – c. 1159) was a Norman knight from the west of England who supported Henry I in his campaigns in Wales. Martin became first Lord of Cemais and founded St Dogmaels Abbey. His descendants continued to hold lands in England and Wales until the 14th century. Family background Newport Castle seen from St Mary's Churchyard. Ruins of castle founded by William fitz Martin, son of Robert fitz Martin, at end of 12th century. Towers, gatehouse and cellars from fitz Martin castle later incorporated into private residence. Robert fitz Martin was born some time in the late 11th century to Geva de Burci, heiress of Serlo de Burci. Geva de Burci's second husband was William de Falaise, with whom she had daughters, Emma and Sybil. "Emma de Falise married William de Courcy as her second husband. Earlier, she had been briefly married to William fitz Humphrey, but was evidently a widow soon after 1100 for, by 1106, she and her sister, Sybil, attested their father's charter without mention of their husbands. As a bride's possessions passed to her husband on marriage, he would normally attest before her but a widow acted in her own right."[1] Emma de Falise married William de Courcy, a son of Richard de Courcy of Courcy-sur-Dives, Normandy. They received the manor of Stoke (renamed Stoke-Courcy, now Stogursey) in Somerset from William, and were grandparents of John de Courcy. This made Robert fitz Martin a brother-in-law of William de Courcy, who "was most active in royal administration during the first decade of the reign" of Henry I, to whom de Courcy was a royal dapifer Life Robert inherited property from William and from his grandfather, Serlo de Burci, in Somerset, Dorset, and Devon. Early in the reign of Henry I he participated in the Norman invasions of Wales, and obtained the barony of Cemais, located between Fishguard and Cardigan, setting his caput at Nevern (Nanhyfer). He married Maud Peverell and with her founded St Dogmaels Abbey between 1115 and 1119. Maude was a sister or daughter of William Peverel the Younger. The couple are not recorded as having any children. During The Great Revolt 1136–1137 much of Cemais was reclaimed by the Welsh. Richard Fitz Gilbert de Clare, lord of Ceredigion, was ambushed and killed by the men of Iorwerth ab Owain. News of his death led to an invasion of Ceredigion by the sons of Gruffudd ap Cynan. Around Michaelmas they made an alliance with Gruffydd ap Rhys of Deheubarth. The combined forces made for Cardigan, and engaged the Normans at the Battle of Crug Mawr, two miles outside the town. The Normans were led by Robert fitz Martin, supported by Robert fitz Stephen, constable of Cardigan Castle, with the brothers William and Maurice FitzGerald, Lord of Lanstephan. After some hard fighting, the Norman forces broke and were pursued as far as the River Teifi. Many of the fugitives tried to cross the bridge, which broke under the weight, with hundreds said to have drowned, clogging the river with the bodies of men and horses. Others fled to the town of Cardigan, which however was taken and burned by the Welsh. However, Robert fitz Martin successfully managed to defend and hold the castle. It was the only one to remain in Norman hands at the end of the rebellion. Robert spent the years 1136–1141 serving the Empress Maud during The Anarchy, and her son, Henry II. His activities from 1142 to 1155 are unknown. Second marriage and descendants[edit] [icon] This section requires expansion. (February 2013) By the reign of Henry II he had a new wife – Alice de Nonant of Totnes (died 1194) – and three young children. Robert seems to have died about 1159, survived by his wife Alice and their children. Of them, Robert fitz Robert was dead by 1162 and buried in Totnes Priory. Sybil is known to have married a Warin de Morcelles and was alive in 1198. William fitz Robert fitz Martin, (c. 1155–1209) inherited the family property and, via a marriage with Angharad, a daughter of Rhys ap Gruffydd, regained the lost territory of Cemais. The family would continue to hold lands in both England and Wales until the extinction of the senior line in 1326. Cadet lines still flourish in England, Wales, Ireland and beyond. Baron Robert FitzMartin Birth 1070 in Blagdon, Somerset, England Death 1159 in Abbey, Pembrokeshire, Wales Family Members Parents Martin Martinus deTours Combe Martin deWalis1020 – 1094 ❏ ♀ Geva DeBurci1055 – 1096 ❏ Show siblings▼ Spouse & Children▼ ♀ Lady Alice De Nonant, Baroness FitzMartin1070 – 1175 ❏ ♂ Robert Martin1110 – 1166 ❏ ♀ Sibyl Fitzmartin1113 – ❏ ♂ William Martin1120 – 1209 ❏ ♀ Sibyl Fitzmartin1122 – 1994 ❏ ♂ Robert Secondus Fitzmartin1124 – 1166 ❏ ♂ Robert Secondus Fitzmartin1124 – 1994 ❏ Baron William Fitzmartin *1135 – 1216 ❏ ♂ William deTurre1140 – 1215 ❏ ♂ William Martin1155 – 1209 ❏ ♂ William Martin1170 – 1216

Baron William Fitzmartin * Birth 1135 in Dartingham Devonshire, England Death 1216 in Barnstaple, Devon, England Family Members Parents Baron Robert FitzMartin1070 – 1159 ❏ ♀ Lady Alice De Nonant, Baroness FitzMartin1070 – 1175 ❏ Show siblings▼ Spouse & Children▼ ♀ Angharad Griffydd1140 – 1226 ❏ Baron William Martin1160 – 1215 ❏ . Spouse & Children▼ ♀ Ankaret Gruffydd1140 – 1226 ❏ ♂ William Martin1160 – 1215 ❏ ♂ David Fitzmartin1163 – ❏ ♂

Elizabeth Fitzmartin of Binghamton, Broome County, NY was born on November 26, 1885, and died at age 87 years old in August 1973.

Raymond Fitzmartin of Glendale, Los Angeles County, California was born on April 9, 1891, and died at age 84 years old in June 1975.

Katherine Fitzmartin of Northridge, Los Angeles County, California was born on July 9, 1893, and died at age 76 years old in February 1970.

Patrick Fitzmartin of Durrow - Queenstown, in Laoise County Ireland was born in 1894 at Kilmurry, Co Clare, Ireland Kilmurrry, in Clare County, and died at age 20 years old on April 11, 1915 in Houplines, Nord County, Nord-Pas-de-Calais France. Patrick Fitzmartin was buried at Ferme Buterne Military Cemetery Houplines in Ireland.

William Fitzmartin of Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Ohio was born on November 24, 1896, and died at age 72 years old in June 1969.

Catherine (Fitzmartin) Roche was born in 1896 in Kilmurry, Clare County, Clare Ireland to Bridgit Fitzmartin and John Fitzmartin, and has siblings Patrick Fitzmartin, Susan Fitzmartin, Thomas Fitzmartin, Jane Fitzmartin, Mary Fitzmartin, Willie Fitzmartin, Bridget Fitzmartin, Anne Fitzmartin, and Margaret Fitzmartin. Catherine Roche was buried in Cork, Cork City County, Cork. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Catherine (Fitzmartin) Roche.

Sarah Fitzmartin of Mercer, Mercer County, PA was born on July 6, 1896, and died at age 82 years old in December 1978.

John Fitzmartin of Washington was born on August 6, 1896, and died at age 67 years old in November 1963.

Thomas Fitzmartin of Pennsylvania was born on June 20, 1897, and died at age 65 years old in November 1962.

Mary Fitzmartin of Jenkintown, Montgomery County, PA was born on November 8, 1898, and died at age 86 years old in November 1984.