Ansger facts for kids
Ansger was an important person who lived around the year 1086. He was one of the main landowners in Devon who held land directly from King William the Conqueror.
Ansger is mentioned in a very old book called the Domesday Book. This book was like a giant survey of England made in 1086. It helped King William know who owned what land and how much tax they should pay. In this book, Ansger is called "Ansger de Montagud" and also "Ansgar of Senarpont." Senarpont is a place in France.
Ansger's Land in Devon
The Domesday Book shows that Ansger de Montagud held seven different areas of land, called manors, in Devon. A manor was like a large estate with a village, farms, and a lord's house. These manors were:
- Stafford (near Dolton)
- A small piece of land in Great Torrington
- Brimblecombe
- Cheldon
- Muxbere
- Sutton
- Dolton
Later, the lands Ansger held became part of a bigger landholding known as the "feudal barony of Gloucester." The main center for this land in Devon was a place called Winkleigh.
Ansger the Breton
It seems that Ansger de Montagud might be the same person as "Ansgar the Breton." This Ansgar also held land in Devon and Somerset. He got his land from Robert, Count of Mortain, who was King William the Conqueror's half-brother. The lands Ansgar the Breton held in Devon included:
- Buckland Brewer
- East Putford
- Bulkworthy
- Smytham
Stafford, one of Ansger's manors, was located in an old area called the Hundred of North Tawton.
