Thor son of Swein, Lord of the Manor of Tranent

THOR SON OF SWEIN Lord of the Manor of Tranent

Thor de Trauernent (1127) Thoro filio Swano (1130) Thor de Trevernent (1141 X 1147) Thor de Truernent (1144) Thorus filius Swani (1150) Thor filio Suein (1150)

The Scots Peerage IV: 254-5

Evidence from Early Scottish Charters

                   1

c. 1127: Charter by which David I, King of Scots, confirms that he has given certain land in Edinburgh to the Church of St. Cuthbert in Edinburgh. The charter is witnessed by Henrico filio Regis, Willelmo de Graham, Thor de Trauernent, and Malbead de Libertona. Early Scottish Charters: LXXII

                    2

c. 1130: Charter by which David I, King of Scots, confirms that he has given certain rights in respect of ships and the Port of Inveresk. The charter was witnessed by Thoro filio Swano and others. Early Scottish Charters: LXXXVII

                   3

c. 1144: Charter by which David I, King of Scots, confirms that he has give fifty-two acres of land in Dalkeith to the canons of Holyrood. The charter is witnessed by Thor de Truernent and others. Early Scottish Charters: CLX

                   4

c. 1150: Charter by which Thorus fillius Swani confirms that he has given the church of Tranent to the Abbey of Holyrood. The charter was witnessed by Thor. arch., and others. Early Scottish Charters: CCXIV

Note: Thor. arch. is probably the he same person as Thoraldi, archdeacon of Lothian, who died in 1166.

                   5

c. 1150: Charter by which Robert, Bishop of St. Andrews, confirms that he has given the church of Lohworuora to Herbert, Bishop of Glasgow. The charter is witnessed by Thor filio Suein and Thor archidiacono, and many others. Early Scottish Charters: CCXXX

Note: Thor the archdeacon is probably the same person as Thor, archdeacon of Lothian, who died in 1166.

Evidence from the National Records of Scotland

                   1

[1124x1139]: Charter by King David I that grants to St Cuthbert's Church near the castle [of Edinburgh] all the land below the castle, from the spring which rises beside the corner of the king's garden along the road which goes to the church, and from the other side beneath the castle until a road is reached which is beneath the castle towards the east. Witnesses: Henry, son of the King; William of Graham; Thor of Tranent; Malbead of Liberton. ('Holyrood Charters', no.3) National Records of Scotland, Papers of the Maule Family, Earls of Dalhousie, reference GD45/13/216

Note: G. W. S.Barrow (ed.), 'The Charters of King David I' (1999), no. 71; A C Lawrie (ed.), 'Early Scottish Charters prior to 1153' (1905) no. 72; C Innes (ed.), 'Liber Cartarum Sancte Crucis' (Bannatyne Club, 1840), no. 3

                   2

1141 X August 1147: Charter by David I that grants to Holyrood Abbey 52 acres of land in Dalkeith [Midlothian] in exchange for "Rhuchale" which the king has given in perpetual alms to Newbattle Abbey [Midlothian]. He also grants to Holyrood Abbey the whole teind of the new mill of Dean in Edinburgh, and of Liberton [Midlothian] in perpetual alms. [Fragment of seal on tongue.] Witnesses: John, bishop [of Glasgow]; Edward, chancellor; Duncan, earl [of Fife]; Hugh de Morville [constable]; William de Lindsay; Walter de Ridal [Rydale]; Thor de Trevernent [Tranent]; Malbet de Liberton [Mael-beatha "the bear", lord of Liberton]. At "Castellum puellarum" [Edinburgh]. National Records of Scotland, Papers of the Maule Family, Earls of Dalhousie, reference GD45/13/219

Note: Published by the Bannatyne Club, 1840.) No. 6. G.W.S. barrow (ed.), The Charters of David I, 1999. No 126. Lawrie, Charters, no 160.

                   3

1153 X January 1162: Charter by Thor, son of "Swan" [Sweyn], who grants in perpetual alms to Holyrood Abbey everything he has in the church of "Trevernent" [Tranent], that is to say lands, pastures and teinds. He also confirms to them 2 houses with 2 tofts. Witnesses: William, bishop of Moray; Osbert, abbot of Jedburgh; Thor, archdeacon [of Lothian]; Aiulf, dean [of Lothian]; Nicholas, king's clerk; Ness, son of "Chilum"; Edmund, son of "Forn"; Bernard, son of "Tocce"; "Gilandrea "[Gilleander], his steward; Edmund de "Fazeside"; "Alden" National Records of Scotland, Papers of the Maule Family, Earls of Dalhousie, reference GD45/13/223

                   4

1165 X 1171: Confirmation by King William I to nuns of Manuel of land in Manuel granted to them by King Malcolm, his brother, which G. De Maleu[ill], Thor son of Swan and others perambulated, of teind of mill of Jhetham [Yetholm, Roxburghshire] granted to them by Walter Corbet, and of a holding (maisuram) in Rokesburg granted to them by Rawenild de Yetham, all to be held in free alms. Witnesses - A., the countess, his mother, Nicholas, chancellor, Richard de Moreu[ill], constable, Walter son of Alan, steward, David Olif[ard], Philip de Ualon', chamberlain, G. de Maleu[ill], Alexander de Sancto Martino. National Records of Scotland, Title deeds to lands in Stirlingshire, the Lennox, Cromarty, Fife and Forfar, reference GD1/88/1

Evidence from the Muniments of Holyrood Abbey

[suggested date c. 1150]: Charter by which Thor son of Swani confirms that he has given the church of Tranent in East Lothian to the monastery of Holyrood. Liber Cartarum Sancte Crucis. Munimenta Ecclesie Sancte Crucis de Edwinesburg. Edited by Cosmo Innes (Bannatyne Club, Edinburgh, M.DCCC.XL), charter number 11 on p. 11

Evidence from the Register of the Bishopric of Glasgow

c. 1150: Charter in favour of Herbert Bishop of Glasgow . . . . . Witnessed by Thor fil Suein and others. Registrum Episcopatus Glasguensis; Munimenta Ecclesie Metropolitane Glasguensis a Sede Restaurata Seculo Incunte Xii Ad Reformatam Religionem. Edited by Cosmo Innes. Volume I (Bannatyne Club, Edinburgh, M.DCCC.XLIII), charter number 11 on p. 12

Evidence from the Register of Newbattle

                   1

No Date: Charter by which William Lindsay confirms that he has given certain land in Crawford to the monks of Newbattle. Newbattle Registrum: charter number 135 on p. 102

                   2

1165 X 1214; Charter by which William I, King of Scots, confirms that William Lindsay has given part of his lands of Crawford (Cratcheford) to the monks of Newbattle. William Lindsay holds Crawford of Swan son of Thor: "qam scilz Cratcheford ipe Wills tenet de Swano filio thore". Newbattle Registrum: charter number 137 on pp. 103-4

                   3

No Date: Charter by which David Lindsay confirms possession of certain land in Crawford to the monks of Newbattle. The land in question had been given to Newbattle by his late father William Lindsay. Newbattle Registrum: charter number 136 on pp. 103

Printed Evidence

1. Early Scottish Charters prior to A.D. 1153. Collected, with notes and an index by Archibald C. Lawrie (James MacLehose and Sons, Glasgow, 1905), 515 pp. including index
2. Registrum S. Marie de Neubotle : abbacie cisterciensis Beate Virginis de Neubotle chartarium vetus : accedit appendix cartarum originalium, 1140-1528. Edited by Cosmo Innes. (Bannatyne Club, Edinburgh, MDCCCXLIV), 369 pp. including indexes
3. Registrum Episcopatus Glasguensis; Munimenta Ecclesie Metropolitane Glasguensis a Sede Restaurata Seculo Incunte Xii Ad Reformatam Religionem. Edited by Cosmo Innes. Volume I (Bannatyne Club, Edinburgh, M.DCCC.XLIII), 302 pp.
4. Liber Cartarum Sancte Crucis. Munimenta Ecclesie Sancte Crucis de Edwinesburg. Edited by Cosmo Innes (Bannatyne Club, Edinburgh, M.DCCC.XL), 333 pp. including index

Genealogy

1. The Scots Peerage; founded on Wood's edition of Sir Robert Douglas's peerage of Scotland; containing an historical and genealogical account of the nobility of that kingdom. Edited by Sir James Balfour Paul, Lord Lyon King of Arms. Volume IV (David Douglas, Edinburgh, 1907), pp. 254-68 for Ruthven, Earl of Gowrie
2. Medieval Lands: Ruthven

History of Crawford Castle

Archaeological excavations to the north-west of the castle have shown that a Roman fort, with a garrison of perhaps 300, existed at this site between 80 AD and 170 AD.[1]

This site was the administrative centre for the Barony of Crawford, at that time the largest and most influential barony in southern Scotland. The Barony was established before 1100 when records of the period show Sveinn as Lord of Crawford. Upon his death, his son Thor, Lord of Tranent and the Sheriff of Edinburghshire, is recorded as Lord of Crawford.[2] Crawford Castle was in existence by 1175,[3] and was probably built as an earthwork and timber castle some time before this by Thor,[4] or indeed by Thor's father Sveinn.

The Lindsay family inherited the barony of Crawford when William Lindsay married ca. 1154 the younger daughter of Thor, and granddaughter of Sveinn, Lord of Crawford or following the death of Thor in about 1165. It was probably William Lindsay who built the stone castle by 1175. He is recorded as Lord of Crawford by 1185x1190.[5] Crawford Castle is located in Crawford Parish. From an early date, the Clan Carmichael of Meadowflatt acted as hereditary constables of the castle, retaining this post under successive owners. "...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crawford_Castle