William l de Vaux, Dirleton

The following extracts from the Official Guide book to Dirleton Castle summarise what is known of that family:-

• “The De Vaux Family” “Some time during the 12th century, these lands (of Dirleton, Ed.) were acquired by a de Vaux (or Vallibus), one of the wealthy Anglo-Normans who had come to Scotland under the patronage of King David (1124-1153). The first known owner of the barony was William de Vaux, a favourite of King William the Lion (1165-1214). About 1220 this baron gave the island of Fidra, or Eilbottle as it was then called, to the White Canons of Dryburgh.

He was succeeded by John de Vaux, who was seneschal to Marie de Coucy, the consort of King Alexander lI (1214-1249). The next baron was Alexander, a son of John, and, like his father, he continued to enjoy the lands of Dirleton and Gullane as well as other lands in the Constabulary of Haddington, as East Lothian was then called. Alexander’s son, John, was a loyal supporter of Scotland during the Wars of Independence, and consequently suffered great losses. On his death, his son, William de Vaux, succeeded him. During the reign of David II (1329-1371), a daughter of this last-named baron married John Halyburton, the second son of Sir Adam Halyburton of Halyburton….

Links

• The Lairds of Barnbarroch