SP Addition: Helen de Menteith, wife of Sir Colin Campbell

[The...@aol.com]

Thursday, 11 November, 2004

Hello All,

I recently came across the following charter for a grant of
lands in Knapdale to Archibald (Gillespic) Campbell in 1353:

26. Charter by John of Menteith to Gillespic Campbell of
Lochow, of his lands in Knapdale. - [29th November] 1353.

" SCIANT presentes et futuri, quod ego Johannes de Menthet, dominus
de Cnappodol et de Aran, dedi, concessi, et in hac presenti carta
mea confirmaui fideli consanguineo meo Gilleasbeg Cambel, domino de
Lochowo, et heredibus suis ac assignatis, de me et heredibus meis,
totas terras subscriptas in Cnappodol; videlicet, denariatam terre
de Ardnanno, Ervergy, Ariluyg et Arierech, quadrantam de Bercorari,
denariatam de Leachcnaban, Drumlynd et de Craglyne, quadrantem terre
de Obinhan, denariatam de Bealalach, denariatam de Conardari,
obulatam de Dunan, denariatam de Glencagiduburgilli et Arigeargage,
denariatam de Lagan, obulatam de Achagnaclochi, denariatam de
Kyllmychel et de Cragnavyach, obulatam de Lergnahunsend
propinquiorem terre de Kyllmychel, denariatam de Drumnaherwege et de
Metnach, tres quadrantes terre de Braclach, obulatam de
Kyllalduburscalan, obulatam de Atichuan, denariatam de Ynwerneill,
Breanorlyng et de Cororlynge, per suas rectas metas antiquas et ex
vtraque parte diuisas: Tenendas et habendas dicto Gilleasbeg Cambel,
de me et heredibus meis, sibi et heredibus, in feuodo et hereditate,
vnacum varda et releuio earundem terrarum, quossiens ad nos uel
heredes nostros contigerint varda uel releuium earundem peruenire,
adeo libere, quiete, plenarie, pacifice et honorifice, in boscis, in
planis, in pratis, in pascuis, in moris, in moressiis, in viis, in
semitis, in aquis, in stagnis, in venacionibus, in piscacionibus, in
molendinis, in siluis, in montibus, et cum omnibus aliis
pertinenciis, libertatibus ac ayssiamentis, ad dictas [terras]
spectantibus vel de iure spectare valentibus in futurum: Si vero
contingat quod fur aut fures, latro uel latrones, in terris
supradictis fuerint atachiati propter furtum, eidem Gilleasbeg,
heredibus suis ac assignatis, concedimus liberam potestatem vendendi
ac dimittendi ipsos, prout sibi placuerit; preterquam quod si ad
mortem fuerint iudicatus aut iudicati ad batibulum et curiam nostram
suspendendi reducantur: Reddendo inde nobis et heredibus nostris
vnum denarium sterlingorum in festo Sancti Martini annuatim
persoluendum, si dictus Gilleasbeg uel heredes sui per nos aut
heredes nostros ad hoc fuerint requisiti, pro omni seruicio seculari
et demanda: Ego vero prefatus Johannes de Menthet et heredes mei
predictas terras dicto Gilleasbeg Cambel et heredibus suis ac
assignatis, contra omnes homines et feminas varantizabimus,
aquietabimus et defendemus: In cuius rei testimonium sigillum
nostrum est appensum: Datum apud Castrum Suffin (Swaine), in
vig[illiis] Sancti Andree Apostoli, anno Domini mccc quinquagesimo
tercio. " [1]

This charter is clearly from John de Menteith, lord of Knapdale
and Arran (d.s.p. 1360), also known as sheriff of Clackmannan. Most
interestingly, the charter clearly states

" ... I, John de Menteith, lord of Knapdale and of Arran, give,
concede and by these presents, my charter, confirm (to) my faithful
cousin Gilleasbeg [Gillespic] Campbell, lord of Loch Awe and his
heirs and assigns,.... "

The account in Scots Peerage for the Campbells provides no
documentation as to such a relationship. I discussed this recently
with Andrew B. W. MacEwen, who stated that a solution had been found
some time ago and was perhaps not widely known: the wife of Sir
Colin Campbell (d. ca. 1340) and the mother of Archibald, or
Gillespic, Campbell (d. ca. 1390) was Helen de Menteith, a daughter
of the well-known (or infamous) Sir John de Menteith of Ruskie
(d. ca. 1323) and aunt of the last John de Menteith of Knapdale.

Walter 'Bailloch' [le Stewart] = Mary de Menteith
E of Menteith, d. bef Apr 1296 I
___________________________________I___
I I
Alexander Sir John de Menteith of Ruskie
E of Menteith d. ca. 1323
_________________________________I______________
I I I I
Joanna Walter Sir John Helen
C of Strathearn laird of lord of = Sir Colin
= l) Malise, E of Ruskie Knapdale Campbell
Strathearn, = Elen of Mar I
2) John Campbell, _____________I___ I
E of Athol, I I I
3) Maurice Murray, Christian JOHN ARCHIBALD
4) (as 2nd wife) = 1) Sir de Menteith Campbell
William Sutherland, Edward de
E of Sutherland Keith

Other evidence of this relationship, as noted by Mr. MacEwen, is
found in the charters and agreements surrounding the feud ca. 1360
between the Menteiths of Ruskie and the Drummonds.

I hope this is helpful.

Cheers,

John

NOTES

[1] William Fraser, ed., The Red Book of Menteith (Edinburgh: 1880),
II:235-6. The original charter is noted as being located at
"The Binns".