Eschina of London

ESCHINA OF LONDON

Eschina domina de Molla; Echina de Molla; Eschener de Molla: Eschina de Lodoniis, Eschina de Ludonijs; Eschina de Londoniis

Spurious Pedigree

According to Lord Lindsay, writing in 1849 in the Lives of the Lindsays, Eschina of London, here treated, is the daughter of: "Thomas de Lundoniis, hostiarius or 'Durward' of Scotland". Lives of the Lindsays I: 24 However, evidence which supports this claim has not been found. Moreover, from the evidence reviewed here, it would appear to be the case that the father and mother of Eschina of London cannot be identified from surviving records.

Spurious Marriage

According to Lord Lindsay, writing in 1849 in Lives of the Lindsays, Eschina of London, here treated, was the widow of Robert Croc, although he did not say where this information came from. Lives of the Lindsays I: 24 Eschina of London, alias Echine de Molle, did enfeoff Robert Croc in a small part of Mow, which passed to his daughter Isabel and her husband Robert of Pollock, and three charters which mention this holding have survived, but they do not provide any evidence of a marriage between Eschina and Robert. Abstracts follow:

                   1

Undated Charter. Possibly issued during the period 1214 X 1249: Charter by which Isabel, the wife of Robert of Polloc, of her own will, with the consent of her husband, and by the advice of her father Robert Croc, granted to Simon of Lindesey in perpetual ferme her maritage which she had in the territory of Molle, namely, Hungerig with all its pertinents, liberties, and easements, as it was given to her father by the lady China of Molle, for payment of ten shillings yearly in name of penalty to the said Simon or his deputies. Melrose Munimenta: charter number 295 on pp. 260-61

                   2

Undated Charter. Possibly issued during the period 1214 X 1249: Charter by which Adam of Hetune and Helen his wife sold to the monks of Melrose for ten pounds sterling their land of Hungerigge in the territory of Molle, and all right which they had or might have in the same, for payment yearly of ten shillings to Ysabel the daughter of Robert of Croc or her heirs, binding themselves, if they should be unable to warrant the lands to the monks, to repay them in full the money they had received, and promising to keep them free of all exactions till they should be fully seized in the land. Melrose Munimenta: charter number 292 on pp. 257-8

                   3

Undated Charter. Possibly issued during the period 1214 X 1249: Charter by which Richard of Heton, son of Master Adam of Heton, as hereditary proprietor of the lands, in right of his late mother, confirmed to the monks of Melrose the sale of Hungerig and Hollemedu by his late father and mother, which land they held of Robert of Pollock and his wife Ysabella. He also expressly renounced all claim on the lands for himself and his heirs. Melrose Munimenta: charter number 294 on pp. 259-60

The Question of Identity

Concerning the identity of Eschina of London, G. W. S. Barrow, formerly Sir William Fraser Professor of Scottish History and Palaeography in the University of Edinburgh, offered the following opinion: "Eschina, variously known as 'de Londres' or 'of Mow', syles which point to her being the granddaughter and heir of Uhtred son of Liulf, native lord of Mow in Roxburghshire, her father being a member of the de Londres or London family". [G. W. S. Barrow, The Anglo-Norman Era in Scottish History: The Ford Lectures Delivered in the University of Oxford in Hilary Term 1977 (Oxford University Press, 1980), p. 65n]

First Marriage

Eschina of London, here treated, married Walter son of Alan, the first hereditary steward of Scotland. Paisley Registrum: 74-5 They were probably married before 24 June 1161, the date suggested for King Malcolm's grant of Mow to Walter. [Regesta Regum Scottorum. The Acts of Malcolm IV King of Scots 1153 - 1165 etc. Collected and Edited by G. W. S. Barrow, M.A., B. Litt. (University Press, Edinburgh, 1960), charter number 183 on p. 183]

Second Marriage

Following the death of Walter son of Alan in 1177, Eschina of London, here treated, married Henry of Molle. Liber Kelso: charter number 166 on pp. 135-6

EVIDENCE FROM THE REGISTER OF KELSO ABBEY

                   1

1186: Eschina de Lodonijs Kelso Liber: charter number 146 on pp. 113-14

                   2

c. 1190: Eschina de Ludonijs Kelso Liber: charter number 147 on pp. 114-15

                   3

10 September 1195 X 2 February 1196: . . . . . Henr de Molle 7 vxore ei' Eschina . . . . . Liber Kelso: charter number 166 on pp. 135-6

                   4

1177 X 1198: . . . . . Henr de Molle salt . . . . . carta Eschine spose mee . . . . . Kelso Liber: charter number 178 on pp. 145-6

                   5

1165 X 1214: Charter by which William I, King of Scots, confirms the possessions of Kelso Abbey, including two ploughgates of land in the territory of Mow that was gifted to them by Eschina of London: "Et duas bouatas t're i' t'ritorio de Molle q'as eschina de Londoniis eis dedit . 't past'am . t alia aisiam'ta I uilla de Molle . sic't carta eschine testat'" Kelso Liber: charter number 13 on pp. 14-18

EVIDENCE FROM THE MUNIMENTS OF MELROSE ABBEY

                    1

1214 X 1249: Charter by which Adam of Hetune and Helen his wife sold to the monks of Melrose for ten pounds sterling their land of Hungerigge in the territory of Molle, and all right which they had or might have in the same, for payment yearly of ten shillings to Ysabel the daughter of Robert of Croc or her heirs, binding themselves, if they should be unable to warrant the lands to the monks, to repay them in full the money they had received, and promising to keep them free of all exactions till they should be fully seized in the land. Ysabel, daughter of Robert Croc, holds of the lady Eschina and her heirs. Melrose Liber: charter number 292 on pp. 257-8

                   2

1214 X 1249: Charter by which Richard of Heton, son of Master Adam of Heton, as hereditary proprietor of the lands, in right of his late mother, confirmed to the monks of Melrose the sale of Hungerig and Hollemedu by his late father and mother, which land they held of Robert of Pollock and his wife Ysabella, who held of the lady Eschina of Molle. He also expressly renounced all claim on the lands for himself and his heirs. Melrose Liber: charter number 294 on pp. 259-60

                   3

1214 X 1249: Charter by which Isabel, the wife of Robert of Polloc, of her own will, with the consent of her husband, and by the advice of her father Robert Croc, granted to Simon of Lindesey in perpetual ferme her maritage which she had in the territory of Molle, namely, Hungerig with all its pertinents, liberties, and easements, as it was given to her father by the lady China of Molle, for payment of ten shillings yearly in name of penalty to the said Simon or his deputies. Melrose Liber: charter number 295 on pp. 260-1

EVIDENCE FROM THE REGISTER OF PAISLEY ABBEY

                   1

1163 X 1177: Charter by which Eschine, wife of Walter son of Alan, dapifer of the King of Scots, confirms that she has given one ploughgate of land at Molle in Roxburghshire to the monks of the Priory of Paisley. The charter is undated but her husband was the principal witness and so it must belong to the period before his death in 1177. Her gift was made for the benefit of the souls of kings David and Malcolm, and Earl Henry, and for the sould of her daughter Margaret, who was buried in the chapter house of the Priory of Paisley: "Margarete filie mee que apud Passelet in capitulo jacet sepulta". Paisley Registrum: 74-5

                   2

1173 X 1177: Charter by which William I, King of Scots, confirms to Paisley Priory (afterwards Abbey) one ploughgate of arable land in Mow (in Morebattle parish, Roxburghshire), by the marches measured and perambulated, with pasture for 500 sheep and for as many animals as are allowed with one ploughgate in that toun, granted by his steward Walter son of Alan and his wife Eschina, as their charters bear witness. Paisley Registrum: 76

                   3

1177 X 1204: Charter by which Alan son of Walter, dapifer of the King of Scots, confirms possession of certain lands and churches to the monks of Paisley. His gift is made for the benefit of the souls of King David and King Malcolm, and for the souls of his father and mother: "pro anima patris mei Walteri et matris mee Eschene". Paisley Registrum: 15

                   4

1225 X 1227: Charter by which Pope Honorius III confirms the possessions of the monastery of Paisley, including one carucate of land at Mow in Roxburghshire which was given to the monks by Eschina of Mow: "Et carucatam terre quam nobilis mulier Eschina de Molla vobis contultit intuit pietatis". Paisley Registrum: 410-14

                   5

1 December 1469: Transcript of a charter issued in 1265 by which Pope Clement IV confirmed the possessions of the monastery of Paisley, including one carucate of land at Mow in Roxburghshire which was given to the monks by the deceased Eschina of Mow: "Et carucatum terre cum pertinentiis suis quam quondam Eschena de Molla mulier monasterio vestro contultit ibidem". Paisley Registrum: 308-14

SECONDARY SOURCE EVIDENCE

1. Registrum Monasterii de Passelet cartas privilegia conventiones aliaque munimenta complectens a domo fundata A.D.MCLXIII usque ad A.D.MDXXIX, etc. (Maitland Club, Edinburgh, MDCCCXXXII), 440 pp. plus Appendix and Index
2. Liber Sancte Marie de Melros. Munimenta Vetustiora Monasterii Cisterciensis de Melros. Tomus Primus. (Bannatyne Club, Edinburgh, M. DCCC.XXVII), 321 pp. plus Indexes and Illustrations
3. Liber S, Marie de Calchou. Registrum Cartarum Abbacie Tironensis de Kelso. 1113-1567. (Bannatyne Club, Edinburgh, MDCCCXLVI), 582 pp. including indexes

GENEALOGY

1. Origines Parochiales Scotiae. The Antiquities Ecclesiastical and Territorial of the Parishes of Scotland. Volume First. (W. H. Lizars, and J. S,ith and Sons, London and Glasgow, MDCCCLI.), 532 pp including index. For the parish of Mow see pp. 413-26
2. The Anglo-Norman Era in Scottish History. The Ford Lectures Delivered in the University of Oxford in Hilary Term 1977. By G. W. S. Barrow, F.B.A., (Oxford University Press, 1980), 232 pp.
3. The Kingdom of the Scots: Government, Church and Society from the Eleventh to the fourteenth Century. By G. W. S. Barrow. (Edward Arnold, London, 1973), 404 pp.

THE PARISH OF MOW

                   1

MOLLE (MOLLA), MOL, MOLL, MOW. The ancient parish of Mow forms the upper half of the present parish of Morbattle, to which it was annexed apparently before the year 1672. Origines Parochiales Scotiae I: p. 413

                   2

MOLLE // MOW This territory originally formed a part of ancient Northumbria, and was granted, with other lands and towns on the Beaumont, to Lindisfarne, during the seventh century. During the reign of Alexander I., it was possessed by a person of the name of Liulf. After his death, Uctred, his son, succeeded to the territory, and who, before the year 1153, granted to the monks of Kelso the church of Molle, -with land lying adjacent, as bounded by him and Aldred the dean. From Uctred the land passed to Eschena De LONDONIIS- Called Lady Eschena of Molle; but the connexion between her ladyship and Uctred does not clearly appear. She was married first to Walter, the first steward of Scotland. The History and Antiquities of Roxburghshire and Adjacent Districts. From the Most Remote Period to the Present Time, By Alexander Jeffrey. Volume III (Thomas C. Jack, Edinburgh, 1859), pp. 265-89 for an account of Mow

SPURIOUS GENEALOGY

1. Lives of the Lindsays I: 24
2. The Scots Peerage: pp. 10-12 for Walter son of Alan, the first hereditary steward of Scotland
3. Darryl Lundy's Peerage: Eschyna de Mow
4. Electric Scotland: The most ancient Family of Lundin or Lundie of that ilk, A History by Robert Lundie Smith
5. Stirnet: Lundin 1
6. Knight Family
7. LDS ancestry.com: Eschyna de Molle

Example 1

Isabel de Molle, daughter of Eschyna de Molle, the original heiress, daughter again of Thomas de Lundoniis, Hostiarius or “ Durward “ of Scotland. Isabel . . . . Her mother Eschyna married, first, Robert de Croc, by whom she had Isabel, and secondly, Walter FitzAlan, the High Steward, ancestor of the royal family of Stuart. Lives of the Lindsays I: 24

Example 2

Thomas de Londoniis and Escheyne de Molle were known to have had three children, Malcolm de Lundin, Phillip de Lundin and Escheyne de Molle . . . . Escheyne de Molle was certainly married twice; firstly, to Robert de Croc; secondly to Walter Fitz Alan, the first hereditary high steward of Scotland. Electric Scotland: The most ancient Family of Lundin or Lundie of that ilk, A History by Robert Lundie Smith

Example 3

Walter Fitzalan was married to Eschyna de Londoniis, heiress of Uchtred de Molla (Molle) & Huntlaw (territorial designations, not then surnames) and widow of Robert Croc. Upon Walter's death his widow married Henry de Molle, whose new surname is probably taken from his wife's lands. She and Walter had three children: Alan fitz Walter, Walter fitz Walter, Margaret fitz Walter Wikipedia: Walter fitz Alan