William Bendings facts for kids

William Bendings was an important English judge and a county sheriff who lived in the 1100s. He helped the king manage legal matters and keep order in different parts of England.

Who Was William Bendings?

William Bendings was a trusted official during the time of King Henry II. He was known for his work in the legal system and for serving as a sheriff, which was a very important job back then. Sheriffs were like the king's representatives in a county, responsible for law enforcement and collecting taxes.

Early Missions for the King

In 1176, King Henry II sent William Bendings on a special mission to Ireland. He was one of four envoys, or messengers, sent by the king. Their job was to work with the king's representative in Ireland, Richard FitzGilbert, Earl of Striguil, also known as Strongbow.

Part of their task was to bring back a knight named Reimund Fitzgerald to England. Reimund was a brave warrior whose actions in Ireland had made the king a bit worried. However, Reimund couldn't leave right away because he had to help defend the town of Limerick. Richard FitzGilbert also passed away that same year. So, it seems William Bendings and the other envoys returned to England without Reimund.

William Bendings as a Judge

William Bendings became a royal judge, meaning he worked for the king to make sure laws were followed.

Serving in Yorkshire

In 1178, William Bendings was working as a royal judge in Yorkshire, a county in northern England. This shows he was already an important figure in the legal system.

Changes to the Justice System

In 1179, there was a big change in how the king's courts worked. The chief justice, Richard de Lucy, stepped down. The country's legal areas, called circuits, were reorganized. Instead of six circuits, there were now four. Most circuits had five judges, but the northern circuit had six. William Bendings was one of these six judges.

One of his fellow judges in the northern circuit was a very famous legal expert named Ranulf Glanvill. Glanvill later became the chief justice, showing that Bendings worked with some of the most important people in the legal world of his time. William Bendings is also mentioned in official records from November 1179 as a royal judge at Westminster.

William Bendings as a Sheriff

Besides being a judge, William Bendings also served as a sheriff.

Sheriff of Dorset and Somerset

From 1183 to 1184, William Bendings held the important position of sheriff for two counties at once: Dorset and Somerset. This was a big responsibility, as he was in charge of both areas. As sheriff, he would have been responsible for collecting taxes, maintaining peace, and carrying out the king's orders in these counties.

William Bendings' Family and Death

William Bendings was married to a woman named Gunnora, and they had a son named Adam. The exact year William Bendings died isn't known for sure. We know he was still alive in 1189-1190 because his name appears in official financial records from that time. However, it seems he passed away by 1196 or 1197. This is because his son, Adam, started taking responsibility for debts his father had from his time as sheriff.