Biography of William Zouche 1st Baron Zouche Harringworth 1276-1352

Paternal Family Tree: Zouche

Maternal Family Tree: Aoife ni Diarmait Macmurrough Countess Pembroke and Buckingham 1145-1188

On 18th December 1276 William Zouche 1st Baron Zouche Harringworth was born to [his father] Eudo Zouche (age 38) and [his mother] Millicent Cantilupe at Harringworth, Northamptonshire [Map].

On 25th June 1279 [his father] Eudo Zouche (age 41) died at Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Leicestershire.

In August 1297 [his son] Eudo Zouche was born to William Zouche 1st Baron Zouche Harringworth (age 20) and [his future wife] Maud Lovell Baroness Zouche Harringworth (age 17).

In 1299 [his mother] Millicent Cantilupe died.

Around 1300 [his daughter] Joan Zouche was born to William Zouche 1st Baron Zouche Harringworth (age 23) and [his future wife] Maud Lovell Baroness Zouche Harringworth (age 20) at Harringworth, Northamptonshire [Map].

Around 1301 [his son] John Zouche was born to William Zouche 1st Baron Zouche Harringworth (age 24) and [his future wife] Maud Lovell Baroness Zouche Harringworth (age 21) at Harringworth, Northamptonshire [Map].

Around 1303 [his son] Roger Zouche was born to William Zouche 1st Baron Zouche Harringworth (age 26) and [his future wife] Maud Lovell Baroness Zouche Harringworth (age 23) at Harringworth, Northamptonshire [Map].

Around 1305 [his son] Thomas Zouche was born to William Zouche 1st Baron Zouche Harringworth (age 28) and [his future wife] Maud Lovell Baroness Zouche Harringworth (age 25) at Harringworth, Northamptonshire [Map].

The Deeds of the Dukes of Normandy

The Gesta Normannorum Ducum [The Deeds of the Dukes of Normandy] is a landmark medieval chronicle tracing the rise and fall of the Norman dynasty from its early roots through the pivotal events surrounding the Norman Conquest of England. Originally penned in Latin by the monk William of Jumièges shortly before 1060 and later expanded at the behest of William the Conqueror, the work chronicles the deeds, politics, battles, and leadership of the Norman dukes, especially William’s own claim to the English throne. The narrative combines earlier historical sources with firsthand information and oral testimony to present an authoritative account of Normandy’s transformation from a Viking settlement into one of medieval Europe’s most powerful realms. William’s history emphasizes the legitimacy, military prowess, and governance of the Norman line, framing their expansion, including the conquest of England, as both divinely sanctioned and noble in purpose. Later chroniclers such as Orderic Vitalis and Robert of Torigni continued the history, extending the coverage into the 12th century, providing broader context on ducal rule and its impact. Today this classic work remains a foundational source for understanding Norman identity, medieval statesmanship, and the historical forces that reshaped England and Western Europe between 800AD and 1100AD.

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In 1308 William Zouche 1st Baron Zouche Harringworth (age 31) was created 1st Baron Zouche Harringworth.

Around 1309 [his son] Edmund Zouche was born to William Zouche 1st Baron Zouche Harringworth (age 32) and [his future wife] Maud Lovell Baroness Zouche Harringworth (age 29) at Harringworth, Northamptonshire [Map].

Around 1315 [his daughter] Thomasina Zouche was born to William Zouche 1st Baron Zouche Harringworth (age 38) and [his future wife] Maud Lovell Baroness Zouche Harringworth (age 35) at Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Leicestershire.

Around 1315 [his daughter] Isabel Zouche was born to William Zouche 1st Baron Zouche Harringworth (age 38) and [his future wife] Maud Lovell Baroness Zouche Harringworth (age 35) at Seaborough, Somerset.

                    Close Rolls Edward II 1325. 8th December 1325. The Tower. William la Zouche of Haryngworth (age 48), knight, acknowledges that he owes to [his son] William la Zouche, his son, £4,000; to be levied, in default of payment, of his lands and chattels in co. Wilts.
                
                    The said William la Zouche acknowledges that he owes to the aforesaid William, his son, £2,000; to be levied, in default of payment, of his lands and chattels in co. Devon.
                
                    Cancelled on payment, acknowledged by Gilbert de Gretton, clerk, attorney of William son of William.

Close Rolls Edward II 1325. 11th December 1325. The Tower. The said William la Zouche (age 48) acknowledges that he owes to [his son] John la Zouche (age 24), his son, £4,000; to be levied, in default of payment, of his lands and chattels in co. Cornwall.

Cancelled on payment.

Before 26th March 1326 [his son-in-law] William Deincourt 2nd Baron Deincourt (age 25) and [his daughter] Millicent Zouche Baroness Deincourt were married.

On 26th March 1326 [his son] Edmund Zouche (age 17) died.

Chronicle of Walter of Guisborough

A canon regular of the Augustinian Guisborough Priory, Yorkshire, formerly known as The Chronicle of Walter of Hemingburgh, describes the period from 1066 to 1346. Before 1274 the Chronicle is based on other works. Thereafter, the Chronicle is original, and a remarkable source for the events of the time. This book provides a translation of the Chronicle from that date. The Latin source for our translation is the 1849 work edited by Hans Claude Hamilton. Hamilton, in his preface, says: 'In the present work we behold perhaps one of the finest samples of our early chronicles, both as regards the value of the events recorded, and the correctness with which they are detailed; Nor will the pleasing style of composition be lightly passed over by those capable of seeing reflected from it the tokens of a vigorous and cultivated mind, and a favourable specimen of the learning and taste of the age in which it was framed.'

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On 26th March 1326 [his son] Thomas Zouche (age 21) died.

On 26th March 1326 [his son] Roger Zouche (age 23) died.

On 26th March 1326 [his son] John Zouche (age 25) died.

On 12th April 1326 [his son] Eudo Zouche (age 28) died at Paris [Map].

Before 1333 William Zouche 1st Baron Zouche Harringworth (age 56) and Maud Lovell Baroness Zouche Harringworth (age 52) were married. She by marriage Baroness Zouche Harringworth. They were half sixth cousins. She a great x 5 granddaughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England.

Around 1337 [his daughter] Joan Zouche (age 37) died at Peckleton, Leicestershire.

Before 1344 [his son-in-law] Oliver Ightham and [his daughter] Elizabeth Zouche were married.

Around 1344 [his daughter] Thomasina Zouche (age 29) died at Kirkby Mallory, Leicestershire.

Chronicle of Geoffrey le Baker of Swinbroke

Baker was a secular clerk from Swinbroke, now Swinbrook, an Oxfordshire village two miles east of Burford. His Chronicle describes the events of the period 1303-1356: Gaveston, Bannockburn, Boroughbridge, the murder of King Edward II, the Scottish Wars, Sluys, Crécy, the Black Death, Winchelsea and Poitiers. To quote Herbert Bruce 'it possesses a vigorous and characteristic style, and its value for particular events between 1303 and 1356 has been recognised by its editor and by subsequent writers'. The book provides remarkable detail about the events it describes. Baker's text has been augmented with hundreds of notes, including extracts from other contemporary chronicles, such as the Annales Londonienses, Annales Paulini, Murimuth, Lanercost, Avesbury, Guisborough and Froissart to enrich the reader's understanding. The translation takes as its source the 'Chronicon Galfridi le Baker de Swynebroke' published in 1889, edited by Edward Maunde Thompson.

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In 1346 [his wife] Maud Lovell Baroness Zouche Harringworth (age 66) died.

On 31st January 1350 [his daughter] Isabel Zouche (age 35) died at Wincanton, Somerset [Map].

On 11th October 1350 [his daughter] Elizabeth Zouche died.

On 11th March 1352 William Zouche 1st Baron Zouche Harringworth (age 75) died at Harringworth, Northamptonshire [Map]. He was buried at Biddlesden Abbey, Buckinghamshire [Map]. His grandson [his grandson] William (age 30) succeeded 2nd Baron Zouche Harringworth. [his granddaughter-in-law] Elizabeth Ros Baroness Zouche Harringworth by marriage Baroness Zouche Harringworth.

[his son] Archbishop William Zouche was born to William Zouche 1st Baron Zouche Harringworth and Maud Lovell Baroness Zouche Harringworth.

[his father] Eudo Zouche and [his mother] Millicent Cantilupe were married.

[his daughter] Millicent Zouche Baroness Deincourt was born to William Zouche 1st Baron Zouche Harringworth and Maud Lovell Baroness Zouche Harringworth at Harringworth, Northamptonshire [Map]. She married before 26th March 1326 William Deincourt 2nd Baron Deincourt and had issue.

[his daughter] Elizabeth Zouche was born to William Zouche 1st Baron Zouche Harringworth and Maud Lovell Baroness Zouche Harringworth She married before 1344 Oliver Ightham and had issue.