the family of Alan Durward: a Sinclair ascent?
John P. Ravilious
Hello Alex, Tim, Doug, et al.,
I have obtained a copy of a recent work of interest to most
researchers in medieval Scottish genealogy. This is The Exercise
of Power in Medieval Scotland, ed. by Steve Boardman and Alasdair
Ross [1]. This will provide material for some time to come, but
one in particular stirred particular interest. This is Dr.
Matthew Hammond's contribution, 'Hostiarii Regis Scotie: the
Durward famiy in the thirteenth century' [pp. 118-138].
In part, Hammond deals with the issue of the three daughters
of Alan Durward and his wife Margery, illegimate daughter of
Alexander II, King of Scots. Hammond musters sufficient evidence
to make the identification of Anne, wife of Colban, Earl of Fife
as one of these daughters as probable, if not proved [2]. With
regard to the last (but perhaps not the youngest) daughter,
Hammond, wrote,
' For the third daughter, inheritance patterns suggest that
she probably married John Bisset the younger. Bisset's
daughter Cecilia married William de Fenton, lord of Baikie,
Angus. Between 1301 and 1316 William gave Auchindory in the
tenement of Reedie, Angus to Coupar Abbey. As Alan Durward
was a previous owner of Reedie, it may be that one of his
daughters married John Bisset, and that therefore the estate
passed on to William de Fenton through his marriage to
Bisset's daughter (Alan's granddaughter) Cecilia. ' [3]
If this identification is correct, the Fraser (of Lovat)
descendants of John Bisset have a rather interesting addition to
their pedigree. Further still, it is the William de Fenton
who married Cecilia Bisset, and not his son Sir William, who was
the most likely father of the Alice de Fenton who was married to
Sir Henry de Sinclair: if this descent is likewise valid, the
early Sinclair ancestry is noticeably enhanced.
[NOTE: the following chart is conjectural. Non-marital
relationships are shown thus: ~ .
Illegitimate descents: ............
Conjectured descents: _ _ _ _ _ _ ]
William 'the Lion' = Ermengarde
K of Scots I de Beaumont
1165-1214 I
I
I
NN ~ Alexander II = 1) Joan of = 2) Marie de
: K of Scots 1214-1249 England I Coucy
: I m. 1239
....:....................... I____
: : I
Ermengarde Margery = Alan Durward Alexander III
d. ca. 1241 I d. 1275 b. 1241
I K of Scots 1249-1286
I
_________________I _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
I I I
Ermengarde Anne NN
= William de Soulis = Colban = John Bisset
I E of Fife of Lovat and the Aird
I 1266-1270 d. ca. 1260
V I I
V I
___________________________________I_____
I I I
Cecilia Elizabeth Muriel
= William de = Sir Andrew = Sir David
Fenton de Bosco de Graham
I I I
_____________I _ _ _ _ _ _ V V
I I I
Sir John I Alice = Sir Henry
I I de Sinclair
________I I d. aft 13 Oct
I I 1335
Sir William ______I____________
I I
Sir William John
I
V
Should anyone have any additional relevant documentation,
comment or criticism, that would be welcome indeed.
Cheers,
John *
NOTES
[1] Steve Boardman and Alasdair Ross, eds., The Exercise
of Power in Medieval Scotland, (Dublin: Four Courts Press,
2003).
[2] In reference to a charter dated 1266x1272, Hammond wrote,
' Colban, earl of Fife, and his wife Anna, probably Alan
Durward's daughter, granted the land of Glensalauch in the
Mearns, which they held of Alan Durward and Alan held of the
king, to Magister William Wishart,...' [Hammond, in
Boardman, Ibid., p. 133, cites Kinnoull Charters, Perth,
no. 114]
Further, citing the same source, concerning Anne's son
Duncan, Earl of Fife, Hammond wrote,
' His charter refers to Alan Durward as 'propinquus',
indicating a close relationship.' [ibid., p. 136]
[3] Hammond, ibid., p. 136. He cites C. A. [i.e. Coupar
Angus] Chrs. nos. 71 and 99; C. A. Rent., no. 88; RRS,
v, no. 103; and separately concerning the Bisset
inheritance, he cites Beauly Chrs., 54.
* John P. Ravilious
The...@aol.com
WJho...@aol.com
I also have a note that he "d bef 28 Jan 1335/6" citing stirnet
If both dates can be supported than he must have died between them.
Will