Sir Robert Lawrence

In Search of Sir Robert Lawrence of Ashton Hall, circa 1190ish AD. Sorry about this, Cuzes. Spammers ate my other blog, so I’ve moved here. Thanks!!

I added this page in order to clean up the rumors running around about my 1100AD grandfather that he either didn’t exist or that the genealogy is wrong and I’m not his kin. I’ve spent a year looking for him and like Alex Haley – Robert Lawrence, I’ve found you!! So here’s the info all nice and neat. Enjoy!!! And it seems the ‘pedigree’ is ‘important’ by some folks, so it’s at the end of the article.

It all started a year ago with a white three ringed notebook with a cover page that entitled THE SMITH FAMILY TREE. My Uncle Larry, also known as Joe, had spent thirty years researching my family tree. He found knights and ladies, Lords, sheriffs, pastors, and farmers and of course, me resting in the annuals of time. But it was one name that stood out from the rest.

Sir Robert Lawrence of Ashton Hall circa 1190 AD.

Legend said that he was a crusader and rode along side King Richard the Lionhearted during the 1190 AD Third Crusade. Legend also claimed that he did a great deed in the name of the King and God and for this great feat, the King designated him a knight and granted him a coat of arms.

The deed differs depending upon the speaker, some claiming as the crusade neared St. Joan of Arce castle, Robert knowing the Muslim leader Saladin was nearing the castle, broke from the train of crusaders, grabbed the king’s flag and planted it on highest pinnacle, claiming the castle for Richard. Another legend states that the king was so impressed by Robert’s bravery that he gave him the grand duty of guarding the standard. Others say he, along with three other men, climbed the castle walls and opened the castle doors, allowing the crusaders to enter the fortress, thus destroying the enemy. Still another claims he was the first to raise the Christian flag outside Acre.

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Notes for Robert Lawrence: Sir Robert Lawrence was born in about the year 1150 A.D. in the direct vicinity of Lancaster , Lancashire, England. His father, also named Robert, was a silversmith and worked for the resident Lord of Lancaster Castle. Lancaster Castle, built on the remains of three Roman forts, was first established in about the year 1100 A.D. Today it serves as a prison for Britain.

In the year 1187, Robert Lawrence answered the call to the Third Crusades under King Richard the Lion-Hearted. After traveling aboard ship to Cyprus, he arrived in present-day Palestine to fight in the battle of The Siege of Acre where he scaled the walls, along with four other men, and opened the gates to the armies of Britain. Acre fell, but was given back to the Turks a year later. In return for his bravery, Robert Lawrence was knighted by King Richard in 1191 and given Ashton Manor, sometimes called Ashton Hall, which is located three miles south of Lancaster , as a fief. His armor, a red cross on a white field, (a cross raguley, gules) is registered with The College of Arms in London, England. There are several Ashton's and Ashton Halls in Lancashire and they should not be confused with Ashton Manor of Lancaster . Diana Hanson 7/26/97