Richard CORBET Knight [Parents] [scrapbook] ¹.

Thomas CORBET the Pilgrim [Parents] [scrapbook] ¹.

Simon CORBET [Parents] [scrapbook] ¹.

Of Pontesbury

William CORBET Baron of Caus [Parents] [scrapbook] ¹.

Of Wattlesborough.

Roger CORBET Baron of Caus [Parents] [scrapbook] was born in Normandie, France. He died ¹ in 1134.

Domesday Baron of Claus.

Hugo le CORBET [scrapbook] was born ¹ in 1040. He died ² in 1076.

The Corbets are an ancient family that can be traced back to Normandy. It is believed that the Corbets are of Danish origin and that the raven was their symbol. The Corbet name is probably an outcome of the old Norman "Le Corbeau" that, over time, changed to "Le Corbet". It could be derived from two possible sources. The Danish were known to display the "Reafan" or the raven as a sacred standard in battle. It is written by the historians, Pliny and Tacitus, that there was a warrior family who took their family name and emblem from "The Raven". They related that their direct ancestor was "Valerius". It is said that during a battle, Valerius had a Raven land on his helmet at a critical moment during a battle in Gaul and lead him to victory. The latin for crow or raven is Corvus. The first documentation of this family is in A.D. 1040, Le Carpentier mentions one Hugo le Corbet or le Corbeau as "Chivalier." Until the Norman Invasion in 1066 they were thought to be an important family in the "Pays de Caux" region of Normandy.

This family history begins with Hugo le Corbet or le Corbeau. With two of his sons, Roger and Robert, Sir Hugo joined in the battle of Hastings with William the Conqueror in 1066. Hugo helped counsel the Conqueror in regards to the Welsh border lands which were rebellious. For their service as knights to the Conqueror, Robert and Roger were given Baronies. Roger received twenty-five manors. Robert received a grant of fifteen manors in Shropshire which became the barony of Longden. These Manors were townships under the Saxon rule. Roger called both his castle and barony "Caus" after his home in Normandy. The Corbets served under the Earl Roger de Montgomery. They were in service to help control the borders of Wales.

In this family history we are following the eldest branch - Roger. After the invasion, Roger made his home at one of his newly acquired manors, the Saxon Morton-Toret. It became the central home for his family, as well as an important Norman castle. During the Civil Wars it was burnt down by Cromwell's soldiers. After that, Acton-Reynold Hall became the new center of the family's activities.

Chevalier

Robert IRBY [Parents] [scrapbook] ^{1, 2}. Robert married HANSARD ³.

4  The IRBYS of LINCOLNSHIRE

D.I. ROBERT IRBY of LACEBY, LINCS.
(Son of Bennett (C. i) and________Gainsby.)
Married_____d. of John Hansard.

Whaplode Parish Register. Copied from a newspaper cutting therein.
"Robert Irby or Ireby of Laceby. Robert his eldest son married Jane d. of Thomas Thimbleby Esq., of Polham, Lines. The grandson of Robert was seated at Gosberton who died 21st June, 1552 (¹this Date is incorrect, it should be 1548), having married Alice daughter of John Bountaine Esq., and by her had issue Leonard who was M.P. for Boston from 1st Queen Mary to 6th Philip and Mary, and again in 5 and 13 Elizabeth, and Thomas, seated at Whaplode married Elizabeth Sergeant and was father of Anthony Irby Esq."

Hansard Pedigrees, Harl. Soc., Li, 1903, Lincs Pedigrees, Maddison, Vol. II.
There is a John, fifth son of Sir Richard Hansard, Kt. (aged 18 in 1395) and Joan d. of_____ Ashe, and a John son of Gilbert Hansard (living in 1390), brother of the above Sir Richard.
Either of these Johns might have l)een the father of the wife of Robert (D. I), so far as the dates are concerned.

Issue. Robert (E. I) and Anthony (E. 2).

¹The date of the Inquest P.M. on Anthony of Gosberton is 10th October, 1552, in which it is stated that he died 21st June, 1548.

HANSARD ¹. HANSARD married Robert IRBY ^{2, 3}.

Thomas THIMBLEBY ¹.

An Esquire

Bennett IRBY [Parents] [scrapbook] ^{1, 2}. Bennett married GAINSBY ³.

GAINSBY [Parents] ¹. GAINSBY married Bennett IRBY ^{2, 3}.

Robert IRBY [Parents] [scrapbook] ^{1, 2}. Robert married Jane LOWDHAM ³.

Jane LOWDHAM [Parents] ¹. Jane married Robert IRBY ^{2, 3}.