Robert of London

ROBERT OF LONDON

Rob de Londonis; Robertus de Londonia; Roberti de Londonijs; Roberti de Londonia

THE QUESTION OF IDENTITY

Robert of London, here treated, is not the same person as Robert of London who was the bastard son of William I, King of Scots. The two men were related in some degree, both had a landed interest at Lessudden (afterwards St. Boswells) in Roxburghshire, but the exact nature of the relationship cannot be identified from surviving records.

Robert of London, here treated, is the son of Richard of London and his wife Matilde of Ferrers Dryburgh Registrum: 54 He is also the nephew of Thomas of London and the uncle of Robert of Roxburgh Dryburgh Registrum: 61

EVIDENCE FROM THE MUNIMENTS OF MELROSE ABBEY

Charter by which Rob de Londonis confirms that he has given one carucate of land at Lessudden to the monks of Melrose. Melrose Liber: charter number 88 on pp. 76-7

EVIDENCE FROM THE REGISTER OF DRYBURGH ABBEY

                   1

c. 1170: Charter by which Robertus de Londonia confirms possession of the church of Lessudden in Roxburghshire to the canons of Dryburgh. He did so for the benefit of the souls of his father and mother, Richardi de Londonia and Matilde de Ferers. Dryburgh Liber: charter number 53 on pp. 41-2

                   2

c. 1170: Charter by which Robertus de Londonia confirms possession of the church of Lessudden in Roxburghshire to the canons of Dryburgh. He did so for the benefit of the souls of his father and mother, Richardi de Londonia and Matilde de Ferers, and Thome de Londonia and Mauricij de London. Dryburgh Liber: charternumber 54 on p. 42

                   3

c. 1170 X 1199: Charter by which William I, King of Scots, confirms that Robertus de Londonia has given the church of Lessudden to the monks of Dryburgh. Dryburgh Registrum: charter number 55 on pp. 42-3

                   4

1174/5 X 1199: Charter by which Jocelin, Bishop of Glasgow, confirms that Robertus de Londonia has given the church of Lessudden to the monks of Dryburgh, and that his gift was confirmed by William I, King of Scots. Dryburgh Registrum: charter number 56 on p. 43

                   5

c. 1220: Charter by which Robertus de Londonia confirms possession to the monks of Dryburgh of the land in Lessudden previously given to them by Thomas de Londonia, whose gift was made for the benefit of the soul of his wife Margaret. Robert's confirmation was made for the benefit of the souls of his father and mother. Dryburgh Registrum: charter number 59 on p, 45

                   6

1214 X 1265: ex dono Roberti de Londonijs Dryburgh Registrum charter number 242 on pp. 180-82

                   7

1214 X 1286: Charter by which Robert of Roxburgh confirms the gift that his uncle Roberti de Londonia made to the canons of Dryburgh. His confirmation is made for the benefit of the souls of his ancestors and successrs and the soul of Robert of London. Dryburgh Registrum: charter number 61 on p. 46

SECONDARY SOURCE EVIDENCE

Liber S. Marie de Dryburgh. Registrum Cartarum Abbacie Premonstratensis de Dryburgh (The Bannatyne Club, Edinburgh, MDCCCXLVII), 445 pp. including indexes

GENEALOGY

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. See pp. 183-4 for an account of the de Londres family