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found at findagrave.com
Sybil de Neufmarche
Birth: 1100
Brecon
Powys, Wales
Death: unknown
Hempsted
Gloucestershire, England
Sibyl de Neufmarché, Countess of Hereford, suo jure Lady of Brecknock was a Cambro-Norman noblewoman, heiress to one of the most substantial fiefs in the Welsh Marches. The great-granddaughter of Gruffydd ap Llywelyn, king of Wales, Sibyl was also connected to the nobility of England and Normandy.
Sibyl inherited the titles and lands of her father, Bernard de Neufmarché, Lord of Brecon, after her mother, Nest ferch Osbern, had declared her brother Mahel to have been illegitimate. Most of these estates passed to Sibyl's husband, Miles de Gloucester, 1st Earl of Hereford, as her dowry. Their marriage had been arranged personally by King Henry I of England in the spring of 1121. Sibyl, with her extensive lands, was central to the King's plans of consolidating Anglo-Norman power in south-east Wales by the merging of her estates with those of Miles, his loyal subject on whom he relied to implement Crown policy.
As an adult, Sibyl lived through King Stephen's turbulent reign, known to history as the Anarchy, in which her husband played a pivotal role. Following Miles' accidental death in 1143, Sibyl entered a religious life at Llanthony Secunda Priory, Gloucestershire, England, which she had endowed up to six years previously. Sibyl is buried at the priory, founded by Miles in 1136.
Sibyl was born in about 1100 in Brecon Castle, Brecon, Wales, the only daughter of Marcher Lord Bernard de Neufmarché, Lord of Brecon, and Nest ferch Osbern. Nest was the daughter of Osbern FitzRichard and Nest ferch Gruffydd. Sybil's maternal great-grandparents were Gruffydd ap Llywelyn, king of Wales, and Ealdgyth (Edith of Mercia). Ealdgyth, the daughter of Ælfgar, Earl of Mercia, was briefly Queen consort of England by her second marriage to Harold Godwinson, the last Anglo-Saxon king of England, who was killed at the Battle of Hastings.
Sibyl's father, Bernard, was born at the castle of Le Neuf-Marché-en-Lions, on the frontier between Normandy and Beauvais. Bernard was a knight who had fought under English kings William I, William Rufus and Henry I. According to historian Lynn H Nelson, Bernard de Neufmarché was "the first of the original conquerors of Wales". The name Neufmarché, Novo Mercato in Latin, is anglicised into 'Newmarket' or 'Newmarch'
Sibyl and Miles had eight children:
Margaret of Hereford (1122/1123- 6 April 1187), married Humphrey II de Bohun, by whom she had issue. She received the office of constable of England and exercised lordship of Hereford as a widow until her death.
Roger Fitzmiles, 2nd Earl of Hereford (before 1125- 22 September 1155). Roger's marriage settlement with Cecily FitzJohn (her first marriage), daughter of Payn FitzJohn and Sibyl de Lacy, was ratified by King Stephen in 1137. The marriage was childless as were Cecily's subsequent marriages.
Walter de Hereford (died 1159/60), whether he married is unknown; however, Walter departed for Palestine on Michaelmas 1159, and died shortly afterwards without leaving legitimate issue.
Henry Fitzmiles (died c.1162), married a woman named Isabella, surname unknown; Henry died without legitimate issue.
Mahel de Hereford (died 1164), no record of marriage; died without legitimate issue.
William de Hereford (died 1166), no record of marriage; died without legitimate issue.
Bertha of Hereford (c.1130-), married William de Braose, 3rd Lord of Bramber, by whom she had issue.
Lucy of Gloucester, Lady of Blaen Llyfni and Bwlch y Dinas (died 1219/20), married Herbert FitzHerbert of Winchester, by whom she had issue.
After her husband's death, Sibyl entered a religious life at Llanthony Secunda Priory, Gloucester, which she had previously endowed. Sibyl was buried in the same priory, the dates of death and burial unrecorded.
Family links:
Parents:
Bernard De Newmarch (1050 - 1093)
Spouse:
Miles de Gloucester (1100 - 1143)
Children:
Mahel de Hereford (____ - 1165)*
Roger Fitzmiles (____ - 1155)*
Margaret of Hereford (1122 - 1197)*
Henry FitzMiles (1128 - 1162)*
Lucy de Gloucester (1134 - 1219)*
*Calculated relationship
Burial:
Llanthony Secunda Priory
Hempsted
Gloucestershire, England
Created by: Kat
Record added: Jun 30, 2011
Find A Grave Memorial# 72265064
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S Butler and S Hibbs Family History Our Family's Journey Through Time
1100 - UNKNOWN
