Family
 Joan of AcreBorn ± May 1271 Acre, Kingdom of Acre 1) Died 19 Apr 1307, approximately 35 years 2) Buried ± 23 Apr 1307 Priory Church, Clare, Suffolk, England 3) Notes: Joan of Acre was born in Acre while her parents were there on Crusade. She spent her early years living with her grandmother, Joan of Ponthieu, in France, before being brought to England, aged 5, when a suitable marriage was identified. Her first proposed husband, Hartman of Germany pre-deceased their marriage. She thus married Gilbert de Clare, thirty years her senior. Following his death, she re-married to Ralph de Monthermer in secret, a squire in her father's household. While her father initially opposed the marriage, he would eventually mellow. Joan's IPM evidences that she was the mother of Gilbert's oldest son, Gilbert. While no document directly identifying Joan as mother of Margaret and Eleanor has been identified, there is no reason to suspect otherwise - both are legitimate children of Gilbert, and Joan outlived Gilbert.  Gilbert de Clare, 7th Earl of Gloucester, 6th Earl of Hertford 6) 7)Son of Richard de Clare, 6th Earl of Gloucester, 5th Earl of Hertford, 8th Earl of Clare and Maud de Lacy. Died 1295 8) Notes: Gilbert de Clare was first married to Alice de la March. Note: Gilbert has a son, Gilbert - important to ensure correct records associated with both individuals. Children: 1. Eleanor de Clare | |||
Sources
1) Source: Quondam Monachi S.Albani Chronica et Annales "At Achon (or, as it is commonly called, " Acre "), in the Holy Land, this same Eleanor gave birth to a daughter, who was afterwards named Joan of Acre, and who was in course of time married to Gilbert, earl of Gloucester". Reference: 1271 (Data from direct source)2) Source: Chancery: Inquisitions Post Mortem, Series I, Edward I "Joan, late wife of Gilbert de Clare, sometime earl of Gloucester and Hertford, the king's daughter...Gilbert de Clare, aged 17 on 11 May last, is next heir of the said earl and Joan...She died 19 April, 35 Edw. I...wherein the said Joan was not conjoined, for Alice de la March, sometime the wife of the said Gilbert, held (it) by his demise...Maud de Clare, sometime countess of Gloucester, in her widowhood procured...the same descended to the heirs of the said Gilbert and Joan by the said Jordan’s death, as heirs of the said Maud"Dated: 1307. External Link
https://www.british-history.ac.uk/inquis-post-mortem/vol4/pp311-331. Reference: C 133/128/1, C 133/129/1, C 133/130/1 (Data from direct source)
3) Source: Monuments There is a 20th century board identifying the location of her burial. Reference: Clare Priory churchyard (Questionable reliability of evidence)
4) Source: The chronicle of Florence of Worcester with the two continuations "1290: Gilbert de Clare, earl of Gloucester, married at Westminster, on the last day of the month of April, the lady Joan, surnamed of Acre, from her having been born there, the daughter of the King of England.". Reference: 379
5) Source: Chancery: Inquisitions Post Mortem, Series I, Edward I "Joan, late wife of Gilbert de Clare, sometime earl of Gloucester and Hertford, the king's daughter...Gilbert de Clare, aged 17 on 11 May last, is next heir of the said earl and Joan...She died 19 April, 35 Edw. I...wherein the said Joan was not conjoined, for Alice de la March, sometime the wife of the said Gilbert, held (it) by his demise...Maud de Clare, sometime countess of Gloucester, in her widowhood procured...the same descended to the heirs of the said Gilbert and Joan by the said Jordan’s death, as heirs of the said Maud"Dated: 1307 Evidence for Joan and Gilbert's marriage.. External Link
https://www.british-history.ac.uk/inquis-post-mortem/vol4/pp311-331. Reference: C 133/128/1, C 133/129/1, C 133/130/1
6) Source: Chancery: Inquisitions Post Mortem, Series I, Edward II "Gilbert de Clare, sometime earl of Gloucester and Hertford...Maud, late the wife of the said Gilbert [Badlesmere], in the king’s court at Westminster claims a third part in dower against Bartholomew de Badelesmere, who vouches to warrant Hugh le Despenser, the younger, and Eleanor his wife, Hugh de Audeleye and Margaret his wife, and Roger Dammari and Elizabeth his wife, sisters and heirs of the said earl"Date: 1318 Evidences that Gilbert de Clare is father of Eleanor, Margaret and Elizabeth de Clare.. External Link
https://www.british-history.ac.uk/inquis-post-mortem/vol6/pp110-129. Reference: C 134/63/10 (Data from direct source)
7) Source: Special Collections: Ancient Petitions "Hugh de Audele and Margaret his wife state that they entered the manor of Thaxted in Essex as of the right and inheritance of Margaret, and have long been peacefully seised of it, Margaret, widow of Bartholomew [de Badlesmere], is suing a writ to expel them from this manor, claiming a right in it although she has none... People mentioned: Hugh de Audele and Margaret his wife state that they entered the manor of Thaxted in Essex as of the right and inheritance of Margaret, and have long been peacefully seised of it, Margaret, widow of Bartholomew [de Badlesmere], is suing... People mentioned:Gilbert de Clare, Earl of Gloucester, father of Margaret de Audele; Thomas [of Lancaster], Earl of Lancaster; Margaret [de Badlesmere], widow of Bartholomew de Badlesmere; Bartholomew [de Badlesmere]." Date: c1327. External Link
https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C9061707. Reference: SC 8/31/1513 (Data from direct source)
8) Source: English Baronies: a Study of Their Origin and Descent, 1086-1327. Reference: Pages 34-35: Clare (Questionable reliability of evidence)
9) Source: Chancery: Inquisitions Post Mortem, Series I, Edward III "ELEANOR, LATE THE WIFE OF HUGH LE DESPENSER...Hugh [le Despenser] her firstborn son, aged 29 years and more, is her next heir... She died on 30 June, 11 Edward III." Date: 1337. External Link
https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C9718539. Reference: C 135/51/12 (Data from direct source)
10) Source: English Baronies: a Study of Their Origin and Descent, 1086-1327. Reference: Page 6; Barony of Gloucester (Questionable reliability of evidence)
11) Source: Chancery: Inquisitions Post Mortem, Series I, Edward III "Hugh de Audele (Audley) or Daudele, late earl of Gloucester...The earl died on Saturday before St. Martin last. Margaret, wife of Ralph baron of Stafford, aged 30 years, is his heir...He held divers knights’ fees for his life by the courtesy of England, as of the inheritance of Margaret the wife of Ralph baron of Stafford, daughter and heir of Margaret de Clare his wife...an heir of Gilbert de Clare, sometime earl of Gloucester "Dated: 1347. External Link
https://www.british-history.ac.uk/inquis-post-mortem/vol9/pp54-66. Reference: C 135/87/1 (Data from direct source)