Fief de Thomas Blondel

Fief de Thomas Blondel

Fief of Thomas Blondel came about through the medieval fragmentation of Fief Au Canelly and the initial half of Guernsey given by Duke Richard II in 1020 to Neel, Vicomte of the Cotentin. In 1204 AD the Fief Thomas Blondel and other Fiefs were forfeited to the Crown with separation from Normandy and then given to loyal Seigneurs and Dames. In 1270, on the death of the Seigneur, Sir Henry Le Canelly, the Guernsey fief was divided between his daughters. Guilemette, the wife of Henry de Saint Martin obtained a considerable part of the island, originating later the Fiefs of Janin Besnard, Jean du Gaillard, Guillot Justice and Thomas Blondel.

Today the Fief de Thomas Blondel lies in both St Peter-in-the-Wood and Torteval parishes. Historically, the chief pleas of the Seignorial court of Fief Thomas Blondel were held annually at the mounting block or steps (perron) of the Church of St Pierre-du-Bois.

The 1440 University of Leeds Deed

In 1440 the Fief Blondel was transferred. In the deed, it specifies the fief Thomas Blondel, parcel of the fief au Canely, containing about three bouvées of land called the Bouvée Philipot Pain, lying in the parish of St Pierre du Bois, and the bouvées Torquetil and Bourgeon with the fief de l'Eperon lying in the parish of Torteval, and likewise all and such seigneuries, dignities, liberties, graces and franchises as to the aforesaid fiefs and each of them attach and belong with a certain dinner which Jenete takes and owns annually for an estate of inheritance, she claims, on the fief of the Prior of Lihou.

Historically, The Fief de Thomas Blondel has territory that existed in both of the large Fiefs of Bessin and Cotentin. As per the 1440 Deed of Fief Blondel, the Fief has existed in both St Pierre Du Bois Parish and Torteval parish for well over 700 years. The original owners of Fief Blondel land and title were called Vicomtes or Viceomes.

In 1270, on the death of Sir Henry Le Canelly, the Fief Au Canelly was divided between his daughters. Guilemette, the wife of Henry de Saint Martin obtained a considerable part of the island originating the Fiefs or Lords of Janin Besnard, Jean du Gaillard, Guillot Justice and Fief de Thomas Blondel.

Seigneurs of Fief Thomas Blondel

Sir William De Chesney is named as the Seigneur of the Fief de Thomas Blondel in 1284. This Blondel Fief was owned by noble families for centuries. Other Seigneurs and Dames included Thomas De La Court, Janet Blondel, Pierre Robilliard and Count Marcov.

The present Seigneur of Fief Thomas Blondel is Dr. George Sherwood Mentz JD MBA DSS who is an international lawyer and professor. Counselor Mentz is an assoc. member of St. George House Windsor Castle, was Knighted by the OSG Order of St. Georg Habsburg Lothringen, and a Chevalier of the SMOTJ Order. Mentz is also the lord of the Manors of Ennerdale, Stoborough, and the Barony of Longford-Annaly and holds the honors of Captain of the Sleaught-William (Clan Liam) of the Annaly. Mentz has attended the Court of Chief Pleas in Guernsey and has documented almost 800 years of history of the Fief Thomas Blondel and its territory, foreshore and seabed. Mentz has served various governmental boards and commissions including as a White House Commissioner, Airport Commissioner, and Police Commissioner, and has served various positions in Anglican hierarchy also.

Historical Note on the Fief de Thomas Blondel and it's dependency fiefs, the Fief de l'Eperon and Fief DuQuemin

The fief de l’Eperon does not appear to be recorded otherwise than on the 1440 deed. The Fief Thomas Blondel is said to be part of the fief au Canelly so, the Eperon “fief” is/was a dependency of Thomas Blondel. The other "Eperons" Fief is located in St Andrews. Another fief is shown to be part of the livre de Perchage of Thomas Blondel which was called the Fief of Bouvee Duquemin. This small fief is referenced in various documents including the Priaulx Priaulx Library List of Fief Seigneurs and Fief Manors Guernsey

There is also a Fief la Cour Ricard is mentioned in various documents which may also have been part of Fief Thomas Blondel or other territory in St. Pierre du Bois Parish in the late 1700s.

Dependency fiefs are not unusual, and several other fiefs’ records call dependent tenures “fiefs”, though these do not possess any of the usual manorial paraphernalia (a court etc). At some point the dependent fiefs had somewhat more privileged occupants than some other holdings. The fief de Blanchelande is particularly notable for being split up into many holdings, each known as a fief.

The Fiefs of Guillot Justice and Fief Cour Ricard are associated with Fief Thomas Blondel. Both of these fiefs may or may not be part of the Blondel territory of roughly 239 Vergees.

The Fief Blondel Myth or History?

Blondel is a common surname in Guernsey. It is recorded that King Richard granted a fief to a vassal named Blondel who saved his life from captivity in Germany.

Seal of Thomas Blondel

Guernsey Archives has discovered the seal of Thomas Blondel from 1471.

The 7 Bouvees of Fief Thomas Blondel from one of the last Livres de Perchage are:

The Livres de Perchage are the results of a survey into the landholding of the Fiefs of Guernsey on a particular date.

• Bouvee es Paints
• Bouvees Torquetil et Bourgeron
• Bouvee dite de Thomas Guilbert
• Bouvee de la Bufardiere
• Demie-bouvee a Louvestre
• Bouvee dite de Surcousse
• Bouvee dite de Duquemin or Fief de la Bouvee DuQuemin which is shown on the [Guernsey Fief Map] Guernsey Fief Map Digital Bouvee Duquemin is listed as part of Fief Blondel in 1968 Livres de Perchage.

One of the Last Douzaine lists of Fief Blondel was:

• Laurence Guille
• George William Le Ray
• Daniel Nicholas Girard
• Walter Peter Girard
• John Mahy
• John Alfred Tostevin
• Pierre Tostevin
• Reginald Franklyn De Garis
• Walter Frederic Gallienne
• Sydney John Brehaut