The Battle Abbey Roll. Vol. III.
by
The Duchess of Cleveland.
Prepared by Michael A. Linton
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Sesse : in Leland's list, Sesee; probably from the city of Seez, on the river Arne, in Normandy. Simon de Sais, of Gloucester and Stafford, occurs in the Pipe Roll of 1130. Thomas and William de Sais witness Geva Ridel's foundation charter of Canwell Priory in Staffordshire; and Robert de Ses Fulk Fitz Fulk's charter to Rowcester Priory in the same county (Mon. Angl). Hugo de Seis vel Saxo was a benefactor of Leicester Abbey; and about the year 1210 Gilbert de Seis occurs as a tenant to Chartley Priory. "This," says Mr. Roper, "was the Seis whose heir was married to Villiers, by which match he had Brokesby, as appears by several deeds in my custody." Nichols, on the other hand, tells us that it was William de Seis of Donington who was the father of Juliana de Seis, who became the wife of Alexander de Vilers in the time of Henry III. The house that William built at Donington-on-the-Heath (as it is now called), an oblong square with buildings projecting on the North side, is still perfect, and a fine example of the domestic architecture of that age. Reginald Sesse owned a tenement in the city of Durham, fourteenth century.—Surtees. William and Robert de Sais witness a grant to Chester Abbey of William de Meschines, whose tenants they were in Lincolnshire. Sir Desgarry Seys and Radegund his wife are afterwards mentioned in the county, as well as Cadogan Seys, their heir; but "appear to have been Welsh settlers, and had extensive possessions in Wales."[1]—Ormerod. The Seys of Shropshire had probably a similar origin. Griffin Seys held land at Marton in 1263. Robert Seys, at the Assizes of 1256, was denounced as one of the murderers of William de Albo Monasterio by Clemencia his widow; and outlawed in the Curiae Comitatus.—Eyton's Shropshire. John Gouiz, 22 Richard II., granted the manor and advowson of Durweston and Knighton to John Seys and Martin Moulish.—Hutchins' Dorset.