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

Prepared by Michael A. Linton
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Trencheuile : This, and the following name, Trenchelion, appear at first sight to be twin brothers, and both of them nicknames; though, unless it commemorates some successful assault or surprise, I am wholly unable to interpret the first. But in the Norman Exchequer Rolls it is given as Truncheviller (Robertus de Truncheviller 1198-1203): and, as one of the numerous forms of the Norman Villers or Weiler, it must be considered territorial. In England it occasionally became Frencheville.

It had crossed the Channel at a very remote date. Goscelin Trencefoil was of Essex in the time of Henry I. (Rot. Magn. Pip,). John Trenchfuill, in 1165, held Chigenhale-Trenchfoille, in that county, as two knights' fees of Geoffrey de Mandeville, Earl of Essex (Liber Niger), and in 1182 dedit monachus de Bermondsey part of his domain of De la Stane in the parish of Godchester. (Mon. Angl.) William de Franchevilla witnessed a confirmation deed of Henry de Essex to Monk's Horton Priory in 1163, and as "Willielmo Trenchfuil" a grant of William de Mandeville to Waltham Abbey. "In the thirteenth of King Henry III. we find mention of a gift of some land at Chigenhale-Trenchfoille to Richard Fitz Hugh which William Trenchfoyle held."—Morant's Essex. The "Roll of Humphrey de Bohun, Earl of Essex and Hereford, containing the proffers of service made at the muster at Carlisle on the Eve of St. John Baptist, 28 Ed. I," includes Philip Trenchefil, then holding of John de Mules in Somersetshire. "Henry de Mailler or Maleche held four knight's fees at Tittle Totham under Henry de Essex, Baron of Rayleigh, with Isabel Franchevill, an heiress to whom he was guardian."—Ibid.

The family was amply represented elsewhere. "Robert de Tranchefoil, 55 Hen. III., held in Brockhampton, Dorset, of Roger de Quincy, Earl of Win ton. 32 Ed. I. proof was made of the age of William, brother and heir of Peter Trenchfoyl, deceased, who held these lands of the King in capite, in right of the custody of the lands and tenements of John Comyn, Earl of Buchan, of late taken into the King's hands for certain causes." (The Scots, it should be noted, had just chosen John Comyn of Badenoch as Regent of that kingdom.) Some of the witnesses affirmed that they recollected the date of his birth, twenty-two years before, "by a forcible entry into the house of Peter Trenchfoyl, father of the said William."—Hutchins' Dorset.

Three of the name, Roger, Nicholas, and Thomas Trencheffoyl occur in Wiltshire about 1272; and Walter Trencheffoil, at the same date in Worcestershire.—Rotuli Hundredorum. John Trenchfoyle, clerk, again in Worcestershire, appears as witness to one of John de Tony's charters, 17 Ed. III. In Buckinghamshire, Alice and Joan Frenchfoyle, in 1461, confirmed the manor of Tattonhoe to John Barton and others. Alice, then the widow of John Ickford, was one of the daughters and co-heirs of Maud Tranchefoil.—Lipscomb's Bucks. To this family we may probably assign Humfrid Franchevalier, who in 1165 held one fee of William FitzAlan in Shropshire, and another of Pagan de Mundubel in Gloucestershire.—Liber Niger.