Bartholomew de Burghersh, 1st Baron Burghersh

Sir Bartholomew de Burghersh (d. August 3, 1355, Dover), English nobleman and soldier, was a younger son of Robert de Burghersh, 1st Baron Burghersh and Maud de Badlesmere, sister of Bartholomew de Badlesmere, 1st Baron Badlesmere.

Bartholomew was born some time between 1287 and 1296. Before June 11, 1320, he married Elizabeth de Verdun, daughter and coheir of Theobald de Verdun, 2nd Baron Verdon.

Bartholomew de Burghersh served in the Scottish wars, and assisted his uncle Bartholomew de Badlesmere, 1st Baron Badlesmere, who was Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports in 1320. Uncle and nephew both joined the rebellious Earl of Lancaster at the Battle of Boroughbridge (March 16, 1321/2), but were captured after the defeat there. Badlesmere was hanged, but Burghersh was pardoned by Queen Isabella.

He was himself made Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports and Constable of Dover Castle in 1327, holding the office until 1330. In 1329, he was created Baron Burghersh by writ of summons. From 1335 until 1343, he was one of the Justices in Eyre, responsible for enforcing forest law.

In 1340, he inherited some of the lands of his brother, Bishop Henry Burghersh. He was made a Knight Banneret in 1341, and was sent as part of an embassy to the Pope in August 1343. He would later become Lord Chamberlain of the Household, Admiral of the West, and Seneschal and Custos of Ponthieu and Montreuil.

He fought at the Battle of Crécy in the King's division, and was present at the Siege of Calais. He was again appointed Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports in 1348, and was made Constable of the Tower of London on June 27, 1355. He fell ill while at Dover Castle and died there on August 3, 1355.

Children of Bartholomew and Elizabeth

* Henry de Burghersh (d. November 1348), married Isabel St John, daughter of Hugh St John, 2nd Baron St John of Basing but left no issue
* Bartholomew de Burghersh, 2nd Baron Burghersh (d. 1355), married Cecily de Weyland
* Thomas de Burghersh
* Joan de Burghersh, married John Mohun, 2nd Baron Mohun
* Margaret de Burghersh, married Maurice FitzThomas FitzGerald, 4th Earl of Kildare

He was succeeded as Baron Burghersh by his son Bartholomew.

References

* Ancestral Roots of Certain American Colonists Who Came to America Before 1700 by Frederick Lewis Weis, Lines: 70-32, 70-33.
* [http://groups.google.com/group/soc.genealogy.medieval/msg/77f119ded5a40b92 Excerpt from "The Institution, Laws and Ceremonies of the Most Noble Order of the Garter"] , by Elias Ashmole
*1911