| Notes |
- Sir Robert--The first outstanding man of this name was Sir RobertdeBures of Acton, Suffolk, who died in 1331. He was the son ofNicholas deBures of Magna Bures, Suffolk, and very likely a nearrelative of Andrewde Bures of Foxherd Manor, Essex, 1286. At allevents he became Lord ofthat Manor. The memorial brass over his graveportrays him in chain mailand with his legs crossed. This is theconventional sign of the crusader.The ninth and last crusade to theHoly Land occurred in 1270. Assumingthat he was at least twenty yearsold at that time, he must have beenborn as early as 1250. Nothing ison record about him before the year1302, when his first wife Alicedied, by whom he had issue four sons, towit: John, Andrew, Michael andWilliam.
Beginning with 1310 his name appears in the public records. Thus inthat year Robert de Bures and James, his brother, of Suffolk, proffertheservice of one-fourth part of a knight's fee (Parl. Writs).
In 1324 Sir Robert de Bures, Knight, is returned by the sheriffofSuffolk, pursuant to a writ tested at Westminster 9th of May, as summoned by general proclamation to attend a Great Council at Westminster on Wednesday next after Ascension Day, 30th of May.
"It does not appear," says Gage, "that the family of Bures had landsinActon till the marriage of Sir Robert de Bures (in 1311) with his secondwifeHillaria, daughter of Sir John le Fermer, which lady held in dower lands inActon, parcel of the honor of Peverell, the several estates of herformerhusbands, Hugh Talemache of Bentley, died 25 Edward I (1295), and JohndeHodebovill, died 2 Edward II (1309). In the 5th and 7th years of Edward II (1312and1314) Roger de Hodebovill and Hugh Talemache, the sons respectively,conveyed to Sir Robert de Bures and Hillaria his wife for their lives the manorofActon and various lands in Acton, and in the 11th year of Edward II (1318)the reversion became settled on Andrew de Bures, second son of Sir Robertby his first marriage.
Sir Robert de Bures died prior to October 15th, 1331, on which datehisinq. p.m. was taken in the county of Suffolk, Andrew de Bures, his son,beingheir and aged 28 years. On August 13th, 1331(*), when his end was near, he obtained permission from the King to give to the Prior and Brethrenofthe order of the Holy Cross of Whelnetham 4 messuages, 240 acres of arable land, 20 acres of pasture with belongings in Aketon and Waldingfeld,forthe purpose of providing for two chaplains who were to celebrate massdaily forever in the Brethren's Church at Whelnetham for the repose of thesoulof said Robert and the souls of his ancestors and of all thefaithfuldeparted (Suffolk Green Books, vol. 15, p. 384).
Sir Robert de Bures is buried in the parish church of Acton (AllSaints)in the Lady Chapel, in company with his descendants Alice de Bryan and Henry Bures. There is a magnificent brass over his grave, six feet and morein length and made apparently of bell metal. It has outlasted thepurbeckstone upon which it rests, for the stone has crumbled away for the betterpartof an inch leaving the figure of the cross-legged knight in relief. TheBritish Archaelogical Association pronounces it to be the finest militarybrassin existence and the third oldest in England.
Sir Robert de Bures left no issue by his second wife Hillary. Byhisfirst wife Alice he had John, born about 1299, Andrew, born about 1301, Michaeland William.
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Abt 1250 - 1331 (81 years)
