William of Somerville

WILLIAM OF SOMERVILLE

According to James, eleventh Lord Somerville, William of Somerville, here treated, is the son of John of Somerville. He believed him to have been the lord of Whichenour in Staffordshire, England, and Linton in Roxburghshire, Scotland: "Off William, the first of that Name, and second Barrone of Lintoune, younger Brother to Robert, Lord of Whichenour in England, both of them the Seventh from Sir Gualter de Somervill". Memorie I: 61-72

It can hardly be doubted that John of Somerville was the lord of Whichenour in Staffordshire. The fact of this is confirmed by an inquisition held on 6 November 1283, following his death, which found that his son John was his next heir. Inquisitions II: 368

Evidence from Inquisitions Post Mortem

6 January 1283 [8 Edward I]: JOHN DE SOMERVILLE. Mandate from R. de Sandwico, the king's steward to the sheriff of Stafford, reciting writ of 6 Jan, 8 Edw, I. Stafford, Inq. (undated) ALREWAS. The manor, held of the king in chief, doing service of ¼ knight's fee and rendering 15l. yearly at the king's exchequer, and worth 4l. more yearly. WYCCHENORE.AND SYRESCOTE. The manor (extent given) held of the honour of Tutteburi by service of 2 knights' fees of the fees of Mortain. TONSTALL AND NEUBOLD. viz.—a messuage, 2 carucates land, 42s. 10d. rent, 40s. of villeins' aid, and pleas and perquisites of courts, held of the honour of Totteburi by service of ¼ knight's fee. CURBORUD.. 1 virgate land held of the bishop of Coventre and Lych[feld] for two suits at the court of Lych[feld] yearly. JOHN HIS SON, aged 25 and more, is his next heir. Inquisitions Post Mortem. Vol II, Edw. I: number 368 on page 205

Genealogy

1. Memorie of the Somervilles; being a history of the baronial house of Somerville. By James, eleventh Lord Somerville. Edited by Sir Walter Scott. In Two Volumes. Vol. I. (Archibald Constable and Co., Edinburgh, 1815), 495 pp.
2. Memorie of the Somervilles; being a history of the baronial house of Somerville. By James, eleventh Lord Somerville. Edited by Sir Walter Scott. In Two Volumes. Vol II. (Archibald Constable and Co., Edinburgh, 1815), 487 pp. plus Errata

Genealogy

The peerage of Scotland: containing an historical and genealogical account of the nobility of that kingdom, ... collected from the public records, and ancient chartularies of this nation, ... Illustrated with copper-plates. By Robert Douglas, Esq

The peerage of Scotland] by Douglas, Robert, Sir, 1694-1770. Page 625.

Sir WILLIAM de SOMERVILLE, designed dominus de Linton, who was highly esteemed by king Alexander III. from whom he had the honour of knighthood conferred upon him.

He remarkably distinguished himself at the battle of Largis in Cunninghame, where king Alexander III. commanded in person, and obtained a glorious victory over Haco king of Norway, who had invaded Scotland with a numerous army, anno 1263.

In a charter of Henricus de Halyburton, of the lands of Molla, to the monastery of Kel∣so, sir William de Somerville, Nicholas de Rutherfoord, &c. are witnesses, anno 1270.

He is witness also to a bond of man-rent betwixt sir Walter of Newbigging, and sir David of Towie, anno 1281.

This William de Somerville, cum consilio Willielmi patris sui, gave to the episcopal see of Glasgow, pro salute animae sue, &c. ecclesi∣am de Carnwath, &c.

He lived to a great age, died anno 1282, and was succeeded by his son, Sir THOMAS de SOMERVILLE, designed dominus de Linton et Carnwath.