Walter promised William 100 knights with his ships.
One of four men (Hugh de Mountfort, Eustace II of Boulogne and Ivo Ponthieu) to actually kill King Harold II at the Battle of Senlac.
It is upon the authority of William of Jumièges that this Walter Giffart, the companion of the Conqueror, the first we know of that name, has been set down as a son of Osborn de Bolbec by his wife, indifferently called Avelina and Duvelina, sister of Gonnor, wife of Richard, Duke of Normandy. Granting this to be true, as we have no documentary evidence to contradict it, the appellation of Giffart or Gifford, appears to be one of those sobriquets founded on personal peculiarities so commonly applied to distinguish certain members of a family previous to the general establishment of hereditary surnames.
We first hear of him in 1035, as a companion of Hugh de Gournay in the abortive attempt of Edward son of King Ethelred to recover the crown of England (vide vol. ii. p. 113), and next in 1053, when he was left by Duke William in command of the forces blockading the Castle of Arques, and at that period was Lord of Longueville, and already past the prime of life, judging by his account of himself only thirteen years afterwards. In the following year Wace informs us he was intrusted by the Duke with the defence of the district of Caux, in which Longueville is situate, on the occasion of the invasion of Normandy by Henry, King of France. Subsequently he appears to have made a pilgrimage to St. lago de Compostella, in Spain, or may perhaps have been sent there by the Duke on some mission to Alfonso King of Galicia, to whom William afterwards affianced his daughter Agatha, after the breaking off of the match with the Saxon Prince Edwin. All we learn from Wace is that in the great battle William's first horse had been brought to him by Giffard from Spain, "the gift of a king who had a great friendship for him." The Lord of Longueville accompanied his sovereign to England, having furnished his fleet, according to the List published by Taylor, with thirty vessels and a hundred men.
Previous to the battle, Raoul de Conches, the hereditary standard-bearer of Normandy, having prayed quittance of service on that day, that he might fight with greater freedom in the field, the Duke called to him Walter Giffard, and desired him to bear his gonfanon, who also requested to be excused the honour on the plea of being too old and too feeble. "For the mercy of God, sire," said the old knight, "look upon my white and bald head; my strength is impaired, and I am short of breath," and in answer to the Duke's passionate reproaches, urged that he had a large contingent of men-at-arms in the field, whom he was bound to lead into action, and at the head of them he was ready to die in his sovereign's cause. Whereupon the Duke excused him, and assured him that he loved him more than ever, and that if he survived that day it should be the better for him (Walter) as long as he lived.
We hear of no special exploit performed by him during the battle, Benoît de St.-More merely saying that he was struck down in the mélée, and rescued apparently by William himself. At its close, however, after Harold had been mortally wounded, this brave old Lord of Longueville, with his bald head and his white locks, is accused of assisting to mutilate the body of the heroic King! There can be no doubt, I think, that this Walter Giffard who fought at Hastings was the person to whom William the Conqueror, in 1070, gave the earldom of Buckingham; for, old as he is said by Wace to have represented himself at that period, he lived nineteen years afterwards, and was one of the Commissioners intrusted by William to superintend the compilation of the great survey of England, and I can find no reason whatever for the ordinary assertion that his son, the second Walter, was the first earl.
There is evidence that in 1079 he founded the priory of St. Michel de Bolbec, and he is reported to have died about 1081, which we may fairly understand to be 1085, the year in which Domesday was begun and completed.
The wife of this Walter was Ermengarde, a daughter of Gerrard Flaitel, by whom he had a son, the second Walter, Earl of Buckingham, who died in 1102, and with whom he has been confounded. He had also a second son named William, who was Chancellor to William Rufus, made Bishop of Winchester by Henry I, 1107, and died in 1128, and a daughter, named Rohais or Rohesia, wife of Richard Fitz Gilbert, from whom descended the great house of Clare.
http://genealogy.patp.us/conq/giffard.shtml
http://www.spacestar.net/users/skives/html/d0002/g0000000.html#I377 Gilman name was Welsh in origin. Gilman, Gilmin & Gillman descended from Cilmin or Gilman Troed-Dhu (Cilman of the black leg), knight, who was alive about the year 843 in Glynillyson, North Wales. "He came there with his father's brother Mervyn, either from the Isle of Man or from Mervyn's possessions inn the North of Britain and founded the Fourth Noble Tribe of Wales, probably known as the Cilmins. Cilmin's uncle, Mervyn Vryshe, King of the Isle of Man, married Esylly, only daughter and heir of Conan, son of Roderick, King of the Britains. Conan died and Mervyn and Esylly became King of Queen of Wales in 818. Their son was the last Roderick the Great and ancestor of the Tudors."
Nicholas married Mary Gilman, daughter of Edward Gilman & Mary Hawes (1561-9 Mar 1618), in England. Born ca 1605 in Hingham, Norfolk, Eng. Mary died on 15 Jun 1681 in Hingham, MA. Source: 17
5 children:
Edward
John
Moses
Mary Gilman b: 5 AUG 1615 in Caston, Norfolk, England
Lydia Gilman b: ABT. 1620 in Hingham, Norfolk, England married a Cushing
Nicholas married Mary Gilman, daughter of Edward Gilman & Mary Hawes (1561-9 Mar 1618), in England. Born ca 1605 in Hingham, Norfolk, Eng. Mary died on 15 Jun 1681 in Hingham, MA. Source: 17
Complete Book of Emigrants pg 197:
1638, 2 May. Bosome Allen, William Ripley, Steven Yates, Steven Payne, Robert Scoulding, John Beales, Edward Gillman, John Foulsham, Henry Chamberlaine, Daniell Lyncolne and Thomas Thaxster shippers of wheat and malt in the Blessing, Mr. John Adams, bound from Yarmouth to New England. (PRO:E190/490/1&6).
Gen Reg of 1st Settlers of NE pg 122:
GILMAN, EDWARD, probably came from the county of Norfolk, England, where some of his friends resided, and settled at Hingham; was admitted freeman in 1638; removed early to Ipswich, where he lived in 1647; thence to Exeter before 1652, and there died.
Tradition reports that he had 3 sons, Edward, the following, John, and Moses. Two of his daughters m a Cushing and a Hersey. His son Moses lived in that part of Exeter, now Newmarket, and had sons, Jeremish, b 1660; James b 1665; John b 1672; David; Josiah, and Caleb. EDWARD, son of the preceeding, freeman 1645, was of Ipswich in 1647, of Exeter in 1652. It is said that he went to England in 1653, for mill gear, and was lost at sea. JOHN, Exeter 1657, brother of the preceding, one of the principal men of that place, and one of the first counsellors under the province charter 1680, d 24 July, 1708 ae 84. He m 30 June 1657, Elizabeth Treworthy, who d 8 Sept 1719 ae 80, by whom he had 6 sons and 10 daughters. Eight of the daughters married. The sons were 1. James b 6 Feb 1660; 2 John b 1663 d in childhood; 3 Samuel b 30 March 1671; 4. Nicholas b 26 Dec 1672 who m Sarah Clark 10 June 1697; and had 7 sons of whom were Daniel born 28 June 1702, the father of Hon. Nicholas Gilman b 31 Oct 1731, a state counsellor of N.H. who d at Exeter 7 April 1783 leaving sons Nicholas, John Taylor, and Nathaniel, all of Exeter, men much distinguished in the political annals of N.H. and Nicholas born 18 Jan 1707, grad at H.C. 1724, was ordained at Durham N.H. in 1742, and d 13 April 1748, leaving sons, Tristram, H.C. 1757, minister of North Yarmouth, Maine, Joseph a judge in Ohio, and Josiah; 5. John, 2d, b 19 Jan 1677, who, by two wives, had eleven children, six sons, of whom were Peter, b 6 Feb 1705, a mandamus counsellor of N.H. who d 1 Dec 1788, and Samuel, the grandfather of Rev. Samuel Gilman, H.C. 1811, minister at Charlestown, S.C. JOSHUA, representative of Hampton in 1669. Coll. N.H. Hist. Soc. i. 224.
Pioneers of ME and NH:
GILLMAN, GILMAN, GYLLMAN, Edward, yeoman, with his wife, 3 sons, 2 daughters and 3 servants, came to Hingham MA in 1638. Proprietor, freeman 3/13/1638-9. He sold his estate in Hingham 10/1/1652, having removed to Ipswich, where he was a selectman in 1649. Settled later at Exeter, where his son Edward had led the way and others had followed; both signed a petition of inhabitants 24 (3) 1652; bought one half his son Edward's house and adjacent land in Nov 1653. Deeded certain property to wife Mary and sons John and Moses 14 (11) 1654. Wife Mary; ch: Mary (m John Fulsham), Edward, Moses, Lydia (m 1/19/1644-5 Daniel Cushing), Sarah (m John Leavitt), John. He died before 10 (2) 1655, when admin of his estate was granted to his widow, Mary, the sons and sons in law consenting. [Norf rec I, 45.] Genealogy claims that this family descents from the Gilman family of Caston ENG.
Pioneers of MA 187: (Wrong Edward?)
Gilman/Gillman, Edward, yeoman, with his wife, 3 sons, 2 daus., and 3 servants came to Hingham in 1638. Propr., frm. 3/13/1638-9. He sold his est. in Hingham 10/1/1652, having rem. to Ipswich, where he was a selectman in 1649. Settled later at Exeter, as did several of his children. Wife Mary; ch. Mary (m. John Foulsham), Edward, Moses, Lydia (m. 1/19/1644-5 Daniel Cushing), Sarah (m. John Leavitt), John. /P/ He d. before 10 (2) 1655 when admin. of his est. was gr. to his widow Mary, the sons and sons-in-law consenting. (Genealogy claims connection with the family of Caston, ENG] See Smith, Richard. Page 423: Smith, Richard, Ipswich, propr 1641. His dau. m. Edward Gilman Jr., who bought land of him at Ips. 10/9/1647; this land he mortg. 25 (10) 1648, to his father Edward Gilman, Sen., who sold it 10/2/1651, to his brother Richard Smith, of Shroppum, co. Norfolk, ENG, evidently the same man.
Genealogical Dictionary of New England 209:
Gilman: 3 EDWARD, Exeter, b. near Hingham, co. Norfolk, ab. 1587. For ancestry see Gilman Gens. (1869) and (1895), both corrected in Am. Gen. (Jan. 1935). In court, shortly bef. leav. Eng., aged 50, he took oath that his fa. was Edward. He m. in Hingham 3 June 1614 Mary Clarke, and left Eng. with the large party led by Rev. Robert Peck, arriving Boston in the -Diligent-of Ipswich 10 Aug. 1638; thence to Hingham, with w., three sons, two daus. and three servants. Freeman 13 Mar. 1638-9. Partner with Hingham men in large gr. at Rehoboth 1641; by 1650 he had sold there to Joseph Peck the younger, whom his sons John and Moses called 'Cozen' in 1663. See Mayflower Desc. Mag. 25.65; 26.103. Liv. Hingham 20 Oct. 1647; Ipswich, Selectm. 1649; called of Ipsw. 1 Oct. 1652, when he sold out in Hingham (Suff. D. i.243), tho he had previously (8 May 1652) bot from Thos. Biggs at Lamprill River, and Mr. E. G.sr. and s. Moses were accepted inhab. at Ex. 10 May 1652. Signed Ex. ptn. 24 May fol. Lists 376b, 378. His entire est., except œ30 each to sons John and Moses, he deeded to w. Mary 14 Jan. 1654-5, effective at his death. Adm. to her 10 Apr. 1655, the sons and sons-in-law agreeing to distrib. according to his deed. Wid. Mary signed a q. c. 7 Mar. 1663, appar. at Hingham, Mass.; d. there 22 June 1681. Ch: Mary, bp. Hingham 6 Aug. 1615, m. there John Folsom(3). Edward, bp. 26 Dec. 1617. Sarah, bp. 26 Dec. 1617. Moses and Joshua, bp. 15, bur. 19 Sept. 1619. Lydia, m. in Hingham, Mass., 19 Jan. 1644-5 Daniel Cushing, 6 ch. John, (b. 10 Jan. 1624?), bp. 23 May 1626. Jeremy, bp. 27 Nov. 1628, bur. 1635. Moses, bp. 11 Mar. 1630. Sarah, bp. 19 Jan.1632-3. Daniel, bur. 21 Apr. 1634. 4 *EDWARD(3), came to Exeter bef. his fa. He left Hingham, Mass., aft. Mar. 1644-5, and was of Ipsw. when he m. shortly bef. 28 Sept. 1647 Elizabeth Smith, dau. of Richard of Ipsw., who went back to Shropham, near Hingham, Eng. At Exeter 4 Nov. 1647, E. G., the son, was accepted townsman and given mill and timber priv., he engaging to live there. He promptly began to buy up Ex. lands and build mills, mapping out works on a large scale. Lists 376b, 378, 75ab. In 1652 Mr. Saml. Dudley and E. G. were requested by the town to go as Deputies to the Genl. Ct. in Boston. In June 1653 he gave P/A, having urgent occasion to go to Old Eng.--to raise capital and buy machinery--and appar. had sailed when writ was entered in Oct. term of Me. Ct. From this trip he never returned, being 'lost at sea.' Kn. ch: Edward, b. approximately 1649. John, b. approximately 1650. Daniel, b. approximately 1652.
Edward, son of Robert, grandson of Edward, b in Caston, England. To Hingham MA from Hingham, England 1638, listed as freeman that year. Moved to Rehoboth 1643, then Ipswitch MA and Exeter NH in 1652. His family came to England with WTC from Maine, France. 55
Duke of Lotharingia until 939. Lotharingia (or Lorraine) was an area which comprised present north east France, the German Rhineland, Luxembourg, east Belgium, and the Netherlands. It was not yet divided into Upper and Lower Lorraine.
The beginning of the reign of Gilbert is not clear. Lotharingia belonged to West Francia (or France) from 910, when a dux Lotharingiae is first mentioned. This may have been Gilbert. The French king Charles III was deposed in 922 by Robert. Charles remained king in Lotharingia and tried to reconquer West Francia from there. He was imprisoned in 923.
In 925, Gilbert swore fealty to King Henry the Fowler of Germany as duke of Lotharingia. For whatever reason, Gilbert rebelled when Henry died in 936 and changed allegiance to the king of France, where the king had less authority. Gilbert managed to be practically independent for three years until he was defeated and killed by the army of king Otto I of Germany in 939 at the Battle of Andernach. Lorraine was given to Henry I, Duke of Bavaria.
Gisela of Burgundy (before 952 – July 21, 1006) was the daughter of Conrad of Burgundy, "the Peaceful" (ca 923/5–993), who inherited the Kingdom of Arles, and his second wife, Adelaide of Bellay. By his first, more dynastic, marriage, Gisela's father had produced an heir, Rudolf III (died 1032), so she was free to marry for love and comfort.
Some time before 972 Gisela married Henry II, Duke of Bavaria, "The Wrangler". Before he was deposed (985) and died young, (995) they had many children, whom they provided suitable places among the ruling classes of Europe: Henry II of Germany; Giselle of Bavaria, married Stephen of Hungary; Bruno, Bishop of Augsburg; Brigitta, probably an abbess; and Arnold, appointed Archbishop of Ravenna.
Gisela, Giselle, or Gizella of Bavaria (c. 985 — 1033 or 1065) was the daughter of Henry II, Duke of Bavaria and Gisela of Burgundy.
She married King Stephen I of Hungary in 995 (some sources say 1008) as a part of Hungary's policy of opening up to the West. The couple had at least three children, including Saint Emeric (Szent Imre), but all of their children died young without further descendants.
She lived a honorable life and helped Christianize the Hungarian people. After the death of her husband Stephen, she was forced to leave Hungary. She lived in the nunnery of Niedernburg in Passau, where she died. Her grave is a well-known holy place.
Her canonisation was attempted in the 18th century but failed. She was declared Blessed in 1975. Her memorial days are May 7 (the day of her death) and February 1.
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giselle_of_Bavaria"
Gilbert or Giselbert (c.890 – 2 October 939) was the duke of Lotharingia until 939. Lotharingia (or Lorraine) was an area which comprised present north east France, the German Rhineland, Luxembourg, east Belgium, and the Netherlands. It was not yet divided into Upper and Lower Lorraine.
He was a fifth generation descendant of Charlemagne.
The beginning of the reign of Gilbert is not clear. Lotharingia belonged to West Francia (or France) from 910, when a dux Lotharingiae is first mentioned. This may have been Gilbert. The French king Charles III was deposed in 922 by Robert. Charles remained king in Lotharingia and tried to reconquer West Francia from there. He was imprisoned in 923.
In 925, Gilbert swore fealty to King Henry the Fowler of Germany as duke of Lotharingia. For whatever reason, Gilbert rebelled when Henry died in 936 and changed allegiance to the king of France, where the king had less authority. Gilbert managed to be practically independent for three years until he was defeated and killed by the army of king Otto I of Germany in 939 at the Battle of Andernach. Lorraine was given to Henry I, Duke of Bavaria.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gislebert