Synton of Synton
John P. Ravilious
Hello All,
The following pedigree of Synton of Synton is based in
part on evidence provided by the chartularies of Melrose
and Coldstream priories. Fortunately, Joseph Bain made
public the record of a inquisition in 1305 (taken below from
Dickinson) reciting the pedigree of the Sheriffs of Selkirk
from Sir Andrew de Synton, first made Sheriff by William the
Lion in 1214 or before, down to the last of the line to hold
that office (Sir Alexander, d. before 3 Sept 1293). This
confirms the relationships indicated below, and is the only
source I have seen to date noting that the father of the
last Sir Alexander de Synton was Andrew, son of the earlier
Sir Alexander de Synton (d. after 1270). This family is of
interest in that the descendants of the Keith-Synton union
are rather widespread, including the later Lords Gordon, the
Grahams of Montrose (later Earls, etc. of Montrose), the
Campbells of Argyll (later Dukes of Argyll), and the Erskine
Earls of Mar, to name but a few.
It should be noted that the name Synton (or Syntoun) is
held in some circles to be an error for Swynton, and that
individuals named 'de Syntoun' or similiar are actually
members of the Swinton (or Swynton) family. Whether such an
early linkage existed I cannot say, but I have seen no
evidence to support it. Certainly, during the 13th century
there was a distinct family, Synton of Synton, having no
apparent direct connection to either Swinton individuals or
lands.
Should anyone have further relevant documentation,
comment or criticism, that would be welcome as always.
Cheers,
John *
__________________________________________
Synton of Synton, co. Selkirk
1 Sir Andrew de Synton
----------------------------------------
Death: aft 1248[1]
of Synton, co. Selkirk
sheriff of Selkirk
had grant of the office of Sheriff of Selkirk from King William
1214 or before [The Sheriff Court Book of Fife, 1515-1522,
p. 357[4]]
' Andrea de Sintun ', witness (together with Lord Alan, abbot of
St. Edwards of Balmerino, Thomas, Earl of Athol, Malcolm son of
the Earl of Lennox, and others) to two charters of John fitz
Michael of Methkil, granting all his land of Pannescelis to
Melrose priory, dated 13 Dec 1229 x 1237
[Melrose chart. I:189-190, no. 210[2]; I:190-191, no. 211[2]]
~ note as to dates for this charter:
Thomas was Earl of Athol, ca. 1211-1237.
Alan was abbot of Balmerino from 13 Dec 1229 (the
date he left Melrose) until 1238.
' Sir Andrew de Synton' ["Andrea de Sintun....militibus"],
witness (together with Lord Patrick, Earl of Dunbar, Robert,
by the Grace of God abbot of Kelso, Lords William son of the
Earl and Ranulf de Bonekil, Lord John de St. Michael, Andrew
de Sintun, Alexander la Uache, knights, and others) to charter
of Henry de Hassekirk granting his lands of Bellingdene to
Coldstream priory, dated 1248x1253
[Coldstream chartulary pp. 48-49, appendix, no. IV[1]]
~ note as to dates for this charter:
Robert de Smalhame was elected abbot of Kelso, 1248; he
died shortly after 8 Sept 1258. William de Dunbar, 'son
of the Earl', died in 1253[3].
_____________________
An inquisition made at Selkirk, July 23, 1305, found
' that William the Lion gave the sheriffdom of Selkirk to Andrew
of Sinton, from whom it descended heritably to Alexander his
son, Andrew son of Alexander, and Alexander his son.'
[The Sheriff Court Book of Fife, 1515-1522, p. 357[4]]
Children: Sir Alexander (->1270)
1.1 Sir Alexander de Synton
----------------------------------------
Death: aft 1270[1]
of Synton, co. Selkirk
sheriff of Selkirk
' Sir Alexander de Sintun '["alx' de Sintun ...militibus"],
witness to a charter of Sir Henry de Graham of lands in
Dryfedale to David de Torthorald, witnessed by Sir Humphrey
de Kirkpatrick, Sir Alexander de Synton ['alex' de Sintun...
militibus'], Nicholas de Graham and Henry de Graham his sons,
Radulf de Corrie, and others [Reg. Honoris de Morton II:2-3,
no. 3[5]]
" d'no alex'r de Sinton ... militibus " ['Sir Alexander de
Synton'], witness to charter of William de Coningburgh to
Herbert de Maxwell, son of Aymer de Maxwell of a carucate in
Langeholm - confirmed by King Alexander III, 6 April 1268
[Reg. Honoris de Morton II:6-7, nos. 7, 8[5]]
' Alexander de Syntun', granted his lands of Todhillrig, co.
Berwicks. to Coldstream priory, charter dated 1270x1275:
' To all the faithful in Christ who shall see or hear these
presents, Alexander de Syntun wishes salvation in the
Lord. Know ye that I have granted, conceded, and
lawfully sanctioned, and by this my present charter
have confirmed, for myself and my heirs, to the Prioress
and Convent of Coldstream, the entire land of Totherig,
throughout its proper limits, with all the pertinents,
liberties, and productions belonging to the said land,
and all the right which I held in the same and its
pertinents to the Prioress and Convent in all the
premisses which I have granted to my assignees, forever,
which land I held from the donation and concession
of [Sir] Aymer de Makyswell and his heirs, conveying
the possession to the said Prioress and Convent, and
their assignees, as freely, lawfully, fully, and honourably
as any charter of first infeftment may be granted to the
said Sisters, or any charter of our Lord the King,
which may claim superiority over the said land, can be
amply ratified and approved; and I and my heirs,
exclusive of the heirs of Sir Aymer de Makyswell of
the said land and its pertinents, have amply and fully
ratified this in perpetuity. In confirmation of which I
have affixed my seal before these
Witnesses. - Master John de Musselburgh,
at the time Archdeacon of
Teviotdale.
Master Nicolas de Syntun.
John de Lilleclive.
Hugh de Drumsdelie.
Maurice, Chaplain.
Alexander and Robert de Coldstream, Clerks,
and many others. ' [Coldstream chartulary
pp. 17-18, no. 25[1]. Translation, Turnbull, p. 83[6]]
~ note as to date of this charter:
this grant occurred ca:1270x1275. John de Musselburgh was
archdeacon of Teviotdate in 1270, became archdeacon of Ross
in 1275 or shortly thereafter.
Children: Andrew (-<1292)
1.1.1 Andrew de Synton
----------------------------------------
Death: bef 10 Dec 1292[7]
of Synton, co. Selkirk
sheriff of Selkirk
he d. before 10 Dec 1292, date of an order of King Edward
I of England ' to Alexander Synton, "vicecomes de Selkirk," '
[Chalmers, p. 975 note (x)[7], cites Rotuli Scotiae, 12 and
other sources]
_________________________
An inquisition made at Selkirk, July 23, 1305, found
' that William the Lion gave the sheriffdom of Selkirk to Andrew
of Sinton, from whom it descended heritably to Alexander his
son, Andrew son of Alexander, and Alexander his son.'
[The Sheriff Court Book of Fife, 1515-1522, p. 357[4]]
Children: Sir Alexander (-<1293)
1.1.1.1 Sir Alexander de Synton
----------------------------------------
Death: bef 3 Sep 1293[8]
of Synton, co. Selkirk
sheriff of Selkirk
' Edward I., on the 10th of December 1292, issued a mandate
to Alexander Synton, "vicecomes de Selkirk," to pay
"to M., the bishop of Sodor," £10 from the arrears of his
accounts, out of the issues of his bailliewic. Rotuli
Scotiae, 12. Edward, on the 7th of January, 1292-3, issued
another precept to Alexander Synton, "nuper vicecomes de
Selkirk," to pay £24 18s 4 1/2d. out of the arrears due of
his accounts to Nicholas de Colle, "mercatorem nostram
Lucanen. de Societate Ricorum de Luca.: Ib. 17. Synton
is a local name. This sheriff was probably the lord of the
manor of Synton, in the eastern quarter of Selkirkshire .'
[Chalmers, p. 975 note (x)[7], cites Rotuli Scotiae, 12 and
other sources]
he d. before 3 Sept 1293:
Maria, his wife, petitioned for restoration of her dower lands
from King Edward I, recorded at Berwick on 3 Sept 1296, as she
had been widowed for over 3 years:
' Maria, quae fuit uxor domini Alexandri de Syntone, quae
stetit vidua per iij annos elapsos, petit dotem suam ad
valentiam xx marcarum. ' [Stevenson II:93, No. CCCLXXXV.[8]]
Spouse: Maria
Children: Isabella
Andrew (->1296)
1.1.1.1.1 Isabella de Synton
----------------------------------------
coheiress of brother Andrew de Synton
ca. 1303/04 campaign in Scotland, Bain wrote,
' Edward probably thought his last campaign had settled Scotland,
and was in good hope of securing the indomitable Wallace, by
encouraging his countryman Edward Keith, by the bribe of the
heiress of Synton (as seems probable, for the Erskines long held
it as their successors by another marriage) to undertake the
pursuit. ' [Bain, The Edwards in Scotland, p. 45] [9]
cf. SP VI:33[3]
Spouse: Sir Edward de Keith
Death: 1340
Father: Sir William de Keith, Marshal of Scotland (-<1293)
Mother: NN
Marr: bef Jul 1305[3],[9]
Children: Sir Edward
Sir William (->1407)
Andrew
Katherine
1.1.1.1.2 Andrew de Synton
----------------------------------------
Death: aft 3 Sep 1296, d.s.p.[8]
of Synton, co. Selkirk
fought in the battle of Dunbar, 27 Apr 1296;
captured and imprisoned by the English
he evidently d. a prisoner at Fotheringhay
' Isabella, uxor Andreae de Syntone ', his wife, petitioned for
restoration of her lands from King Edward I, recorded at
Berwick on 3 Sept 1296 [Stevenson II:94, No. CCCLXXXV.[8]]
Spouse: Isabella
1. Charles Rogers, ed., Chartulary of the Cistercian Priory of
Coldstream, London: printed for the Grampian Club, 1879.
2. Cosmo Innes, ed., "Liber Sancte Marie de Melros: munimenta
vetustiora Monasterii Cisterciensis de Melros," Edinburgh:
printed for the Bannatyne Club, 1837 (vol. I), 1837 (vol. II),
courtesy Googlebooks.
3. Sir James Balfour Paul, ed., "The Scots Peerage," Edinburgh:
David Douglas, 1904-1914 (9 volumes).
4. William C. Dickinson, ed., "The Sheriff Court Book of Fife,
1515-1522," Edinburgh: Published for the Scottish History
Society by T. and A. Constable, for the Scottish History
Society, 1928, courtesy Googlebooks.
5. Thomas Thomson, ed., "Registrum Honoris de Morton," Vol.
II - Ancient Charters, Edinburgh: J. Constable, for the
Bannatyne Club, 1853, full title: ' Registrum Honoris de
Morton A series of Ancient Charters of the Earldom of
Morton with other Original Papers in Two Volumes ',
completed, with preface by Cosmo Innes.
6. William Barclay Turnbull, D.D., "Historic Memorials of
Coldstream Abbey, Berwickshire," London: printed for private
circulation, 1850, courtesy Googlebooks.
7. George Chalmers, "Caledonia, Or, A Historical and
Topographical Account of North Britain," Paisley: Alexander
Gardner, 1887 (Vol. II).
8. Joseph Stevenson, "Documents illustrative of the history
of Scotland from the death of King Alexander the Third to
the Accession of Robert Bruce," Edinburgh: H. M. General
Register House, 1870 (Vol. I), 1870 (Vol. II).
9. Joseph Bain, F.S.A. Scot., "The Edwards in Scotland, A.D.
1296-1377," being the Rhind Lectures in Archaeology for
1900, Edinburgh: David Douglas, 1901, courtesy Google books.
* John P. Ravilious