William Cheever facts for kids

William Cheever (who lived around 1086) was an important person during the time of King William the Conqueror. He was one of 52 main landowners in Devon directly under the King. His name, Cheever, comes from a French word meaning "she-goat."

William Cheever owned a lot of land, holding 46 different properties in Devon. These lands later became part of a large area called the feudal barony of Bradninch.

William also had a brother named Ralph de Pomeroy, who was another important landowner. They even shared some landholdings. His sister, Beatrix, also held land from him in a place called Southleigh.

What Happened to His Lands?

We don't know if William Cheever ever married or had children. His lands eventually went back to the King during the rule of King Henry I (who was king from 1100 to 1135).

King Henry I then gave these lands to his own son, William I de Tracy, who lived until about 1136. This shows how important land was back then and how it could change hands, even returning to the King.