Sir William Merley of Morpeth

David X Carpenter of Oxford University has recently written about William has part of the Charters of William II and Henry I Project.[1]

William (living 1095), is the "earliest known tenant of Morpeth", Northumberland.

"William de Merlay’s tenancy of Morpeth is first noticed in 1095, during the rebellion of Robert de Mowbray, earl of Northumberland," 2016).

"He may be the same person as William de Merlaio, who was at court in 1088 "on behalf of Geoffrey, bishop of Coutances (1049–1093)."

Referring to the Book of Fees (or Testa de Nevill) Sanders points out that in 1166 the family claimed to have held Morpeth since the conquest (de conquestu), but also describes him as "the first lord of Morpeth of whom anything is known".

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Merlay-4

William married a woman named Menialda. Carpenter cites charter evidence for her and their three sons:

1. Ranulf
2. Gosfrid (Geoffrey). As noted by Carpenter, "a Geoffrey de Merlay held five fees of William d’Aubigny pincerna in Norfolk in 1166".[3]
3. Morel. Carpenter notes "It is possible that William de Merlay’s son Morel was the Morel de Merlai who attested two of William d’Aubigny pincerna’s deeds for Wymondham priory in Norfolk in the 1130s (Monasticon, iii. 330–31, nos. ii–iii); it was presumably the same man who acted as witness for William d’Aubigny pincerna at Caen in 1114 × 1120"

Keats-Rohan and Carpenter also mention one known sister who attested a charter as sister to Ranulf:

1. Eustachia

Benefactions

Durham Cathedral benefactor. Granted Morwick in Warkworth. Discussed in detail by Carpenter.

Death

Carpenter shows that William de Merlay of Morpeth was dead in September 1129.[1]

post mortem Willelmi de Merle, filius eius Ranulphus qui fuit heres illius uenit Dunelmelmum, anno ab incarnatione domini MCXXIX, mense septembris proxima die post festum sancti Cuthberti [5 September 1129]