The Battle Abbey Roll. Vol. II.
by
The Duchess of Cleveland.

Prepared by Michael A. Linton
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Fauecourt : for Fanecort (Duchesne). This name, derived from Vandelicourt, near Beauvais, appears twice again on the Roll, as Venecorde and Vancorde. It is also spelt Phanucourt or Pencurt, and dates from very early times in this country. Helias de Fanecourt held a fee of ancient enfeoffment from Deincourt in Lincolnshire.—Liber Niger. Robert Vancort was a tenant of William de Valence.—Testa de Nevill. Geoffrey de Fanecourt, in 1235, held three parts of a knight's fee under Robert de Buci at Hartley.—Nichol's Leicestershire. Elias de Fancourt, at about the same date, "mortgaged his share of the manor Little Ercall, Shropshire, to Combermere Abbey. His son Gerard was a tenant by knight's service under John L'Estrange."—Eyton's Salop. Elias held of the Archbishop of York at Bruneby, Yorkshire, and John de Fancourt both there and at Elvele, of the Honour of Vesci.—Kirkby's Inquest. Gerard de Fancourt succeeded to his father's fee at Bruneby.—Nomina Villarum. About 1272, Roger, Nicholas, and Egelina de Pencurt are found in Bedfordshire.—

Rotuli Hundredorum. "Sire Bertin de Fanecort" was pardoned as an adherent of the Earl of Lancaster in 1318, and summoned from York to the great Council at Westminster in 1324.—Palgrave's Parl. Writs. Lucia de Thweng, the frail heiress who was first married to William, second Lord Latimer of Danby, and eloped from his house during his absence in Scotland, was subsequently divorced by the Court of Rome, and had three other husbands, the last of whom was Bartholomew de Fanecourt, Of this lady, who died in 1346, an account, with some curious particulars, is to be found in Fasti Eboracenses, i. 377.

The name was still found in its original habitat up to the time of the Commonwealth, for John Fancourt of Manthorpe was among the Lincolnshire gentlemen who compounded for their estate under the Protectorate. His must have been inconsiderable, as the sum he paid was only £38.

I can meet with no account of any existing representatives of the family. A Lt.-Colonel Fancourt was elected M.P. for Barnstaple in 1835.