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Birth:          ABT 1024 of Bienfaite, Normandy
Death:          ABT 1090 St. Neots, Huntingdonshire, England
Burial:         Priory, St. Neots, Huntingdonshire, England

Notes
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_fitz_Gilbert
Richard fitz Gilbert (bef. 1035–c.?1090), was a Norman lord who participated in the 
Norman conquest of England in 1066, and was styled "de Bienfaite", "de Clare", and 
of "Tonbridge"[n 1][1] from his holdings.[2][3]

Biography[edit]

He was the son of Gilbert, Count of Brionne in Normandy[2] (fitz was a variant spelling 
of filz > French fils, that means "son"). Gilbert was a guardian of the young duke 
William and when he was killed by Ralph de Wacy in 1040, his two older sons Richard 
and Gilbert fled to Flanders.[4] On his later return to Normandy Richard was rewarded 
with the lordship of Bienfaite and Orbec in Normandy.[4] In 1066, Richard came into 
England with his kinsman William the Conqueror, and received from him great 
advancement in honour and possessions.[2]

The Dictionary of National Biography and other sources are vague and sometimes 
contradictory about when the name de Clare came into common usage, but what we 
do know is that Richard fitz Gilbert (of Tonbridge), the earliest identifiable progenitor 
of the family, is once referred to as Richard of Clare in the Suffolk return of the 
Domesday Book.[5]

Rewards[edit]

He was rewarded with 176 lordships and large grants of land in England, including the 
right to build the castles of Clare and of Tonbridge. Richard fitz Gilbert received the 
lordship of Clare, in Suffolk, where parts of the wall of Clare Castle still stand.[6] He 
was thus Lord of Clare. Some contemporaneous and later sources called him Earl of 
Clare, though many modern sources view the title as a "styled title".

He served as Joint Chief Justiciar in William's absence, and played a major part in 
suppressing the revolt of 1075.

Rebel Baron[edit]

On the Conqueror's death, Richard and other great Norman barons, including Odo of 
Bayeux, Robert, Count of Mortain, William fitz Osbern and Geoffrey of Coutances, led 
a rebellion against the rule of William Rufus in order to place Robert Curthose on the 
throne. However, most Normans in England remained loyal. William Rufus and his army 
successfully attacked the rebel strongholds at Tonbridge, Pevensey and Rochester.[7]

Death and succession[edit]

He was buried in St. Neot's Priory in 1091. His widow was still living in 1113. His lands 
were inherited by his son, Gilbert fitz Richard.

Marriage[edit]

Richard married Rohese Giffard, daughter of Walter Giffard, Lord of Longueville and 
Agnes Flaitel,[3] and they had the following children:
Roger fitz Richard de Clare, received Norman lands and d. 1131, apparently without 
issue.[3]
Gilbert fitz Richard, d. 1115, succeeded his father as Earl of Clare.[3]
Walter de Clare, Lord of Nether Gwent, d. 1138.[3]
Isabel de Clare, d. 1088, m. Humphrey d'Isle.[3]
Richard fitz Richard de Clare, Abbot of Ely.[3]
Robert fitz Richard,[3] Lord of Little Dunmow, Baron of Baynard, d. 1136.[8]
Alice (or Adeliza) de Clare, d. 1138. m. Walter Tirel.[3][9]
Rohese de Clare, d. 1121, m. (ca. 1088), Eudo Dapifer.[3]

Parents
DE BRIONNE Gilbert ("Crispin") (ABT  980 - ABT 1040)
D'EU Constance (ABT 1009 - )

Siblings
DE CLARE Richard Fitzgilbert "de Tonbridge" (ABT 1024 - ABT 1090)
CRISPIN Heselia (ABT 1025 - )
FITZ GILBERT Baldwin (ABT 1028 - 1090)
DE CLARE Ann (1038 - )

Marriage To GIFFARD Rohese (1034 - BEF 1133)
    m.  

Notes

Parents
GIFFARD Walter (ABT 1005 - ABT 1093)
DE FLEITEL Agnes Ermentrude (ABT 1014 - )

Children by GIFFARD Rohese 1034 - BEF 1133
DE CLARE Rohese FitzRichard (1055 - 1121)
DE CLARE Avice (ABT 1057 - )
DE CLARE Gilbert Fitz Richard (ABT 1060 - ABT 1115)
DE CLARE Robert Fitz Richard (ABT 1064 - 1136)

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