Descent of the Roches of Wexford and presumably of the Lords of Fermoy appears from a charter to the monastery of St. Nicholas of Exeter, by which David, Henry and Adam de Rupe granted the island of Begerin (in Wexford harbour) to the monastery pro salute animae patri nostri Roberti filii Godeberti. Hore, in his 'History of Wexford (vol Ferns p. 349) renders the charter thus: Be it known to all present and to come that we, namely David, Henry and Adam de Rupe, have given and granted and by this our present Charter have confirmed to God and the Monks of St. Nicholas of Exeter, serving God and St. Nicholas there, our small island which is called Begerin, together with the church which is built on the same island, in pure and perpetual alms for the health of the soul of our Father, Robert, the son of Godebert and all our Ancestors and Successors and for the health of our Souls and those of all our relations and also with covenant that the Convent of St. Nicholas of Exeter can claim for themselves on this site no proprietary in our land without or beyond the foresaid island; with another covenant also that after the death of Adam the Monk who obtained this alms, no prior be instituted into the preferment aforesaid by the Prior of St Nicholas of Exeter, without our common consent.' Witnessed by Maurice de Prendergast, Philip Puher (Power), Alexander de Brideshall, Hugh de Stockelee, Robert de la Roche, Henry de la Roche, Bertram de Frend and many others. This charter may be dated about 1180.268

Adam's brother David was a trusted associate of Knight William Marschal in Wexford and came to own a vast estate in Ferngal, later Rochesland (now Shelmalier East). The Roch(e) family seat was at Artramont, today a very small civil parish located in the southeast quadrant of Co Wexford, about 15 miles northwest of Wexford town. This land he shared (sub-infeudated) with David Sinnott so that part of it became known as Sinnott's Land.

1172 Robert's three sons - David, Henry and Adam - accepted the spelling de la Roche in French and de Rupe in Latin as appears on a charter by which they gave the Island of Begerin in Wexford Harbour, with a Chapel already built - St. Nicholas Exeter - to the Roman Catholic Church for the soul of their father Robert (Rodbert), son of Godebert. Maurice de Prendergast was one of many witnesses to the document.

1207 David de Rupe (the first to take the name de la Roche) was granted the cantred of Rosscarberry by King John. David was closely associated with the famous Sir William Mareschal, who later acted as regent for the young Henry III til he reached maturity. About this time he divided Shelmaliere East between himself and kinsman David FitzAdam Sinad (Sinnott), also of Flemish descent.

1212 Alexander FitzHugh founded Bridgetown Abbey in north Cork which later came under the protection of the Roches and remained intimately connected with the Roches of Fermoy for centuries.