The vilification of Urse de Abetot by the leading monastic writers of the Anglo- Norman period needs no introduction, but while this evaluation of his career and that of his brother Robert enlarges on their misdeeds in some areas, it also introduces some extenuating circumstances in others.

The Tancarville connection

Ralph de Tancarville, the first in a line of hereditary chamberlains of Normandy, already held this office during the reign of Duke Robert I, and continued to serve down to his death in 1079. Following the Norman Conquest, control over both the royal and ducal revenues was centralized in the camera, under the continuing supervision of the master-chamberlains of the house of Tancarville. Ralph did not operate in person in England, where the duties of his office were presumably discharged by deputy.

It was suggested by G. H. White that Ralph de Tancarville had a brother, Amaury de Abetot, and that Urse de Abetot was this man's elder son. Urse attested Ralph's charter granting benefactions to the collegiate church of Saint-Georges-de-Boscherville, which he is said to have founded c. 1050. His grants were confirmed by Duke William, before his invasion of England. If Ralph's charter dated from the time of his foundation of the collegiate church, then Urse would have been born c. 1030, but since it was issued at the dedication, when much of the building would have been completed, a date of birth in the 1040s might be indicated.