Michael Linton's Bayeux Tapestry: 1066 - A Medieval Mosaic and Puzzles

Braunch :

from St. Denis de Branche. "The Norman family of Branch, whose estates lay in the Caux, accompanied William de Warrenne to England 1066, where Ralph Branche received a grant of two knight's fees, of which Gresham was the chief seat."—The Norman People. Sir Nicholas de Branche held Peperharow, Surrey, temp. Ed. 1. (Manning's Surrey). About the time of King John, William Braunche married the heiress of Ralph Fitz-Bernard, and "in her right became possessed of the hundred, Manor, and town of Frome, with other property in this and the neighbouring counties; and 23 Hen. III. paid 100s. for his relief of the lands of his wife's inheritance. This William bore on his seal a fleur de lis, surmounted with a file of three points. He died 8 Ed. 1. and was succeeded by Nicholas Braunche" (probably the Nicholas above-mentioned) "who with Roberga his wife, held the manors of Frome and la Valice, with the hundred of Frome, by the service of one knight's fee, 7 Ed. II. Sir Andrew Braunch, son and heir of Nicholas, 19 Ed. III., granted two mills in Frome, and the bailiwick of the bedelary of the hundred of Frome, to Robert Adymot for life, which mills and bailiwick were certified to be held of the King as parcel of the manor of Frome-Braunche. He died 23 Ed. III., leaving issue Thomas his son and heir; but he dying in his minority, the manor became the property of Richard Winslade, who had married Alianor sister of the said Andrew Braunche."—Collinson's Somerset. In Norfolk we find Branch's Manor, held under the De Wauncis. "Sir Peter Branch married Joan, the inheritrix of the Manors of Kenton, Cornerd, and Brandon, and Suffolk, held of the family of De Limesey by four knight's fees, and lived about King John's time. Sir Nicholas, 16 Ed. 1, sealed with a lys and label of five points. Thomas Branch died lord about 1361."—Blomfield's Norfolk. This was, most likely the same Thomas who held in Somersetshire, and died young. The name continued more than two centuries longer in Essex, where, as Morant tells us, John Branche, of Chingford Comitis, died in 1588, leaving three sisters his co-heirs. William Braunche is on the list of the gentry of Lincolnshire made out for Henry VI. in 1433. In Yorkshire, Roger Branch, and Custance his wife, gave some lands in the territory of Couton-Magna to Maryke Priory (North Riding.)—Burton's Mon. Ebor. John de Braunch, Sussex, and Ralph de Branch, Kent, occur in the Rotuli Hundredorum about 1272. In 1278, Peter Branche of Barningham, in the North Riding, "killed John, son of Conan of Redmere, in the town of Brignal with a certain sword, and afterwards fled and was suspected."—Harrison's Yorkshire.