Gerard de Camville

Gerard de Camville (died 1214), was an Anglo-Norman landowner and administrator who was a loyal supporter of King Henry II of England and of his son King John, and through his wife obtained the posts of sheriff of Lincolnshire and constable of Lincoln Castle.

Origins

His family came from Canville-les-Deux-Églises near Dieppe, Born before 1153, he was the son of Richard de Canville, lord of the manor of Middleton Stoney in Oxfordshire where he had a castle, and his first wife Alice. His father was a loyal supporter of King Stephen of England, and of his successor Henry II, until his death in 1176 when most of his lands passed to his son.

While Richard was overseas on the Third Crusade, in 1191 he transferred his loyalty to Richard”s younger brother and potential heir, Prince John. The Lord Chancellor of England, William de Longchamp, promptly stripped him of the shrievalty and ordered him to surrender Lincoln Castle. When this was refused, Longchamp ordered troops to seize the castle, but they were thwarted by Nicola, who they then besieged. In retaliation, Canville and John attacked and took the two royal castles of Nottingham and Tickhill (on Nottingham's border with Yorkshire), upon which Longchamp agreed a settlement and restored Canville as sheriff. In revenge, Longchamp arranged Canville's excommunication. In compensation, John appointed Canville as keeper of the honour of Wallingford and benefited from Canville's support during the rebellion of 1193.

Landholdings In addition to Middleton Stoney, from his father he inherited lands at King's Sutton and Duddington in Northamptonshire, Godington in Oxfordshire and Avington in Berkshire. In 1166 his father also had nine knight's fees in the honour of Mowbray, probably derived from the honour of Stuteville, which he presumably inherited as well.