Hi
I have not been on roots chat for a long time and I was wondering if anyone has come across any information in their research that might be of relevance to my family history. I am researching the ancestry of Sir Walter Sinnett who sailed from Pembroke with his leige lords the de la Clares and the de Rochs in 1169 to "invade" Ireland. As it appears all the Sinnetts in Wexford Ireland and perhaps some in Pembroke Wales can be dated back to him.
I know that Sir Walter Sinnett was a the son of a Flemish knight who sailed with William the Conqueror in 1066 and "invaded " England. As a reward his family the de Synots were granted land in Somerset and Lincolshire. However during the reign of Henry II the Flemish barons and their vassals were sent to subdue the difficult Welsh, these barons were called Marcher Lords. I think the De Synots name became anglised to Sinnett and I think they may have lived around the area where the small village of Sinet Inn in Pembroke is located? They were bound to the Roch family that built the Norman castle of Roch in Pembroke and in turn the La Roch family was bound to their greater lord, Sir Richard de La Clare, Strongbow, who invaded Ireland in 1169.
I do not know the name of the original Flemish Knight who sailed with Willaim the Conqueror, he may have been Sir Walter de Synot? as this seems to be a common christian name used for many Sinnetts.
Please get back to me I would be most interested in anything you say.
Sue
