was the name of Bertram's mother; but, whilst it was a common practice in those days to name a daughter after her grandmother, I have never come across a case where a daughter has been named after her great-grandmother. Apparently, however, this also happened, otherwise we should not find so careful, and so able, a writer as Mr. Round using it as confirmatory evidence of the accuracy of his theory.
Now, if Lesceline is identical with Josceline, daughter of Thomas de Verdon, who married in 1194, she could only have been born at the earliest c. 1195, and consequently was c. 17 only in 1212, when Hugh was c. 45. As Mr. St. Clair Baddeley puts Hugh's second marriage at c. 1212-16, it would follow that Lesceline must have been in her teens at the date of her marriage, and, perhaps, also at her own decease.
As Thomas de Verdon died 1197, and since his brother Nicholas was his heir, it would seem as if Josceline must have died a child v.p., otherwise would she not have inherited her father's estates? Or was this marriage with Hugh another instance of those child-marriages which we come across as occurring in early days in order to secure the inheritance? for we know that Hugh was in possession in 1226 of "the Castles of Rathour' and Le Nober, which he had with Lesceline his wife, of the fee of Nicholas de Verdon." But if Josceline predeceased her father, how are we to get over the statement of Lord Walter FitzGerald, supposing she was identical with Lesceline, that Lesceline had a daughter Maud by the Earl?
If Josceline and Lesceline are one and the same person, we can only assume that Nicholas her uncle purchased of the King the right of bestowal of his niece's hand and property; that she lived to grow up; was given to Hugh de Laci in marriage with the marriage portion already referred to; and that she died c. 1212-16 at the age of 17 to 20. But is there any record of such a purchase by Nicholas of the King?
Where two such learned writers as Lord Walter FitzGerald and Mr. J. Horace Round hold opposite views, it is not for so humble an individual as myself to hazard an opinion as to whose version is correct, but I venture to submit the following tables, which may assist your readers to a decision.
The first is the hitherto accepted pedigree of Lesceline as supported by Lord Walter FitzGerald; the second is carrying into effect Mr. Round's suggestion that Josceline may be identical with Lesceline.
Bertram de Verdon †1192.
c. 1140 Rose (2nd wife), †1215.
Thomas de Verdon, 1st husband. †1197.
1194 Eustachia d. of Gilbert Basset, who †1205.
s.p.
Richard de Camvill, 2nd husband.
Nicholas de Verdon. †1230
Lesceline de Verdon, 1st wife, b. c. 1170. † c. 1212.
c. 1198 Hugh de Laci, Earl of Ulster, b.c. 1167. †1242-3.
c. 121-16 Emeline, d. of Walter de Riddlesford, b. c. 1198, liv. 1276, 2nd wife to Hugh.
c. 1243, Stephen de Longespee. Slain 1260.
Idonea de Camvill.
c. 1225 William de Longespee, 2nd Earl of Salisbury, b. c. 121. Slain 1250. (Elder brother to Stephen on right.)
Rose de Verdon. †1247.
Theobald le Butiller. †1230.
Maud de Laci, m. twice, b. c. 1199-1212. †1303.
Emeline de Longespee, liv. 1306.
Maurice FitzGerald, 3rd Baron of Offaly. †1286.
Ela de Longespee.
Roger la Zouche. †1285.
