Wulfsi the Noble

• Preferred Name: Wulfsi the Noble
  
• Gender: M
  
• FSID: GXLV-PD7
  
• Death: AFT 1086 in Yorkshire, England with note: Probably died in Strafforth, Yorkshire. although he did still retain lands in Nottinghamshire.
  
• Birth: BET 1040 AND 1045 in Nottinghamshire, England with note: Probably born in Nottinghamshire as this was where the bulk of his land was in 1066
  
• Notes:

  === Life Sketch ===
  Estimated birth around 1040 AD
  Born probably in Nottinghamshire, as that is where the bulk of his lands lie.
  
  Primary evidence for Wulfsi being the son of Swein lies in the Domesday Book entry for Bilborough, Broxtowe, Nottinghamshire, where the transcript calls him Wulfsi, but reference to the original manuscript refers to him as Wulfsi, son of Swein.
  ‘WULFSI [SON OF?] SWEIN. At Bilborough in Nottinghamshire the pre-Conquest lords who preceded William Peverel are named Ailric … Ulsi Suen, a scribal usage which may conceal Wulfsi son of Swein or Wulfsi and Swein. Either description would fit Wulfsi the noble, who held several of the previous manors from Peverel, or Swein the noble (q.v.), whose manors were acquired by Walter of Aincourt, though neither tenant-in-chief appears to have acquired the manors of the other's predecessor.’
  Further proof that Wulfsi was Swein’s son can be gathered by an examination of the landowning the following 3 men.
  WULFSI THE NOBLE
  Lord in 1066:
  All in Nottinghamshire
  Gonalston, Thurgarton, Nottinghamshire
  Milton, Bassetlaw, Nottinghamshire
  Bilborough, Broxtowe, Nottinghamshire
  Bramcote, Broxtowe, Nottinghamshire
  Cossall, Broxtowe, Nottinghamshire
  Stapleford, Broxtowe, Nottinghamshire
  Sutton [Passeys], Broxtowe, Nottinghamshire
  Wollaton, Broxtowe, Nottinghamshire
  Swein held land in Thurgarton and Bassetlaw.
  
  WULFSTAN OF DRAYTON
  Lord in 1066:
  Harworth, Bassetlaw, Nottinghamshire
  Martin, Bassetlaw, Nottinghamshire
  [West] Drayton, Bassetlaw, Nottinghamshire
  
  Marr, Strafforth, Yorkshire
  
  Again… Bassetlaw where Swein held land, plus in Swein’s stronghold of Strafforth, Yorkshire.
  
  WULFSI
  Many of this man’s holdings are obviously relate to other Wulfsis (Suffolk, Surrey, Essex, etc.) but the list does include -
  Lord in 1066:
  Adwick [le Street], Strafforth, Yorkshire
  Bentley, Strafforth, Yorkshire
  Doncaster, Strafforth, Yorkshire
  [Kirk] Sandall, Strafforth, Yorkshire
  Langthwaite, Strafforth, Yorkshire
  Scinestorp, Strafforth, Yorkshire
  Wath [upon Dearne], Strafforth, Yorkshire
  Wheatley, Strafforth, Yorkshire
  
  Blyth, Bassetlaw, Nottinghamshire
  Cuckney, Bassetlaw, Nottinghamshire
  Hodsock, Bassetlaw, Nottinghamshire
  [Old] Clipstone, Bassetlaw, Nottinghamshire
  Roolton, Bassetlaw, Nottinghamshire
  
  Greasley, Broxtowe, Nottinghamshire
  Sutton [Passeys], Broxtowe, Nottinghamshire
  
  Bramley [Vale], Scarsdale, Derbyshire
  Rowthorne, Scarsdale, Derbyshire
  
  Again… places where Swein held land, notably in Swein’s stronghold of Strafforth, Yorkshire.
  There are also probably areas of interest in Lincolnshire and elsewhere.
  
  Carlton [-on-Trent], Lythe, Nottinghamshire
  Chellaston, Litchurch, Derbyshire
  Grimston [Grange], Barkston, Yorkshire
  [High and Low] Marnham, Lythe, Nottinghamshire
  Hockerton, Lythe, Nottinghamshire
  Hoon, Appletree, Derbyshire
  Kedleston, Litchurch, Derbyshire
  Marston, Loveden, Lincolnshire
  [North and South] Rauceby, Flaxwell, Lincolnshire
  [Old] Somerby, Threo, Lincolnshire
  Radbourne, Litchurch, Derbyshire
  Risley, Morleystone, Derbyshire
  Weston [Underwood], Litchurch, Derbyshire
  [North and South] Rauceby, Flaxwell, Lincolnshire
  
  After the Conquest though Wulfsi the noble, and Wulfstan of Drayton show no holdings.
  
  Wulfsi shows the following holdings
  
  Tenant-in-chief in 1086:
  Tenants-in-chief held land directly from the Crown.
  
  Strelley, Broxtowe, Nottinghamshire
  Wath [upon Dearne], Strafforth, Yorkshire
  Lord in 1086:
  The immediate lord over the peasants after the Conquest, who paid tax to the tenant-in-chief.
  Brooksby, Goscote, Leicestershire
  Strelley, Broxtowe, Nottinghamshire
  Wath [upon Dearne], Strafforth, Yorkshire
  [West] Drayton, Bassetlaw, Nottinghamshire
  
  Strelley is held jointly by Wulfsi and Godwin - directly from the crown
  Wath upon Dearne in Strafforth is held by Wulfsi alone – directly from the crown.
  Brooksby is held from Judith of Lens, wife of Waltheof – overlord of Strafforth.
  West Drayton is of particular interest as both Wulfstan of Drayton, and Swein son of Svavi, are shown as losing 2/3 land to “men, two” with an overlord Roger of Bully, whilst 1/3 shows Swein disinherited in favour of Wulfsi, under Roger of Poitou.
  Wulfsi did as well own land jointly with his brother.
  
  In 1086, Walcot and Billinghay, in the Hundred of Langoe in Lincolnshire, previously in the possession of Swein son of Svavi, shows Swein’s two sons listed as retaining lordship.
  Walcot
  • Households: 1 villager. 15 freemen.
  • Ploughland: 6 ploughlands. 6 men's plough teams.
  • Other resources: Meadow 4 acres. Woodland 46 acres.
  Owners
  • Tenant-in-chief in 1086: The Archbishop of York
  • Lords in 1086: Swein's two sons; Walkelin (nephew of the Bishop of Winchester).
  • Lord in 1066: Swein (son of Svavi).
  Billinghay
  • Households: 3 villagers. 15 freemen.
  • Ploughland: 4 ploughlands. 2 lord's plough teams. 4 men's plough teams.
  • Other resources: Meadow 16 acres. 3 fisheries.
  Owners
  • Tenant-in-chief in 1086: The Archbishop of York.
  • Lords in 1086: Swein's two sons; Walkelin (nephew of the Bishop of Winchester) .
  • Lord in 1066: Swein (son of Svavi).
  Swein’s legacy
  
  When Swein died, he owned the following lands – assuming they had not been taken from him between 1086 and the time of his death. As he would have been about 70 in 1086, the holdings may have remained intact. They were –
  Tenant-in-chief in 1086: Land directly from the Crown.
  Bourne, Aveland, Lincolnshire
  Oseby, Aveland, Lincolnshire
  Osberton, Bassetlaw, Nottinghamshire
  Lord in 1086: The immediate lord over the peasants after the Conquest, who paid tax to the tenant-in-chief.
  Avethorpe, Aveland, Lincolnshire
  Bourne, Aveland, Lincolnshire
  Oseby, Aveland, Lincolnshire
  
  Casthorpe, Winnibriggs, Lincolnshire
  Cowley, Hamston, Derbyshire
  Osberton, Bassetlaw, Nottinghamshire
  Syston, Goscote, Leicestershire
  These would have been divided between Wulfsi and his brother. As Wulfsi had no land holdings in Lincolnshire, it may be a reasonable assumption that he took the lands in Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Leicestershire, and the unknown brother took the lands in Langoe, Lincolnshire to consolidate his holdings.

1. Andelude de Sheffield, b. ABT 1086 in Sheffield, Yorkshire, England     d. ABT 1126 in England, United Kingdom