GUILLAUME ALIS.

From Alis near Pont-de-l'Arche, Normandy. In 978 Hugh d'Ales witnessed a deed of the abbey of Chartres and was a favourite of Fulco Nerra, the count of Anjou. William Alis followed duke William into England, for which he received lands in Hampshire (Domesday), where he was a tenant-in-chief, holding the barony of Ellatune. He was one of the principal vassals of the lords of Breteuil, and this family gave its name to two mills, one at Breteuil, the other at Carentonne, near Bernay, an estate which it held for a long period. He witnessed the confirmation by William de Breteuil and Gilbert Crispin II of the grant of Guernanville to St. Evroult as well as a charter by Raoul de Toeni II in favour of the abbey of Jumieges in 1080. William de Breteuil died leaving no son born in wedlock and Eustache, his natural son, claimed his possessions and estates, in which he was supported in 1103 by William Alis, either the companion of the Conqueror or his son. Two legitimate nephews of William de Breteuil, namely William de Guader, who lived in Brittany, and Reynold de Grancei, of the house of Burgundy, disputed this succession, but the Normans favoured Eustache, preferring a countryman of their own, although illegitimate, to a Breton or Burgundian. Eustache secured the aid of king Henry I, who not only supported him in his claim but gave him his daughter Juliana in marriage. This William Alis was probably the donor of lands to the canons of the priory of Denys, near Southampton, confirmed a long time afterwards by Geoffry Laci, bishop of Winchester. Philip Alis in 1165 held a fief in Hereford, and a daughter of sir Roger Alys or Halys married Thomas, earl of Norfolk, son of king Edward I.

--(This name appears on the Falaise Roll).