Roger de Somery was the son of Ralph de Somery (d 1210) and Margaret le Gras (liv 1247), feudal baron of Dudley. He inherited the barony in 1235.[1] His granduncle, baron Gervase Paganell, was the husband of Countess Isabel de Beaumont, daughter of Robert de Beaumont, 2nd Earl of Leicester.[2] He also attended the coronation of Richard the Lionheart in 1189.[3]
In 1253, the king sent Roger on an expedition to Gascony to help quell a rebellion.[4] In 1262, Roger began to re-fortify Dudley Castle, which had been slighted by order of King Henry II after the revolt of 1173–74. However, as he did not have a licence from the king to rebuild the castle, he was ordered to stop the construction work.[4]
A licence was subsequently obtained and refortification resumed although the castle was not finished in his lifetime. Roger married twice, first to Nichola Albini/d'Aubigny (daughter of William de d'Aubigny, 3rd Earl of Arundel) and secondly to Amabel Chacombe.[1] He died in 1272.
By his wife Nichola, he had the following children:
- Ralph de Somery, predeceased his father, died without male heirs (d 1273-1282)
- Margaret de Somery m Ralph Cromwell and Ralph Basset
- Joan de Somery m John le Strange; they were the parents of John le Strange, 1st Baron Strange of Knockyn[5]
- Mabel de Somery m Walter de Sully
- Matilda/Maud de Somery m Henry de Erdington [6]
By his wife Amabil he had 2 sons:
- Roger de Somery
- Percival de Somery
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