Re: Sir William de Montfichet, Knt., of Cargill, Perthshire, Scotland

Dear Newsgroup ~

In my previous post, I gave evidence which suggested that Sir William
de Montfitchet, the great-grandfather of Queen Annabelle de Drummond
of Scotland, was living as late as 1311-1312, when he served as
Governor of Dundee [Reference: Charters, Writs, & Public Documents of
the Royal Burgh of Dundee (1880): 7-8]. I believe he was succeeded by
1319, by his son of the same name, another William de Montfitchet, who
was Justiciary on the north side of the Forth in 1319-1333 [Reference:
Easson, Charters of the Abbey of Coupar Angus, 1 (Scottish Hist. Soc.
3rd ser. 40) (1947): 191].

I note that the book, The Story of the Mushets, published 1952, pg.
107 indicates that the elder William de Montfitchet was a commander at
the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314, and that he witnessed the
Declaration of Arbroath in 1320. In my opinion, either father or son
could have been at the Battle of Bannockburn, but by 1320, the elder
William was almost certainly dead.

http://books.google.com/books?id=9o5IAAAAMAAJ&q=Montfitchet+Justiciar&dq=Montfitchet+Justiciar&pgis=1

Even so, the author is of the opinion that Sir William de Montfitchet
the elder lived long past 1287, which is in agreement with my earlier
post.

In a related subject, I note that the book, Recreations of an
Antiquary in Perthshire History and Genealogy (1881), by Robert Scott
Fittis, states that Queen Annabelle de Dummond's mother, Mary de
Montfichet, was granted the largest share of her father's lands,
including the baronies of Kincardine and Auchterarder. The author
further states that "historians of the Drummond family have been in
error in alleging Stobhall and Cargill formed part of Mary's dowry,
seeing that these lands were gifted to Sir John [de Drummond] by Queen
Margaret." Since I know that Cargill, Perthshire was definitely a
possession of the Montfichet family, I suspect the latter statement is
in error. Here is the weblink to Fittis' comments:

http://books.google.com/books?id=WEkBAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA447&dq=Montfitchet+Justiciar

Best always, Douglas Richardson, Salt Lake City, Utah

On Oct 12, 9:46 pm, Douglas Richardson <royalances...@xxxxxxx> wrote:
Dear Newsgroup ~

In recent time, I discussed the heraldic evidence which suggests that
Eleanor, wife successively of Richard Fitz Marmaduke, Knt., Robert de
Umfreville, Knt., Earl of Angus, and Roger Mauduit, Knt., was the
daughter of Sir William de Montfichet, of Cargill, Perthshire.  Sir
William de Montfitchet is well known to Scottish genealogists, as he
was the great-grandfather of Queen Annabelle Drummond, wife of King
Robert II of Scotland, and thus is ancestral to most people with
Scottish royal ancestry.

Sir William de Montfichet, Knt., of Cargill, Perthshire, was known to
be living in 1287,  when he granted the lands in Lilford,
Northamptonshire which he had received from Lady Devorguill Oliphant,
lady of Lilford,  Northamptonshire, to his kinsman, Laurence son of
Sir Walter de Montfichet, with reversion to John son of the said
Laurence [Reference: VCH Northampton, 3 (1930): 227-230, citing
Buccleuch Deeds, F. 1, 2, 4, 5].

Elsewhere John Ravilious has assumed that William de Montfichet was
dead before 1296, as no mention is made of him in the Ragman Roll of
that date.  However, D.A. Easson, the editor of Charters of the Abbey
of Coupar Angus, 1 (Scottish Hist. Soc. 3rd ser. 40) (1947): 191
indicates that William de Montfichet was living c.1300, when he
witnessed a charter.  Easson cites as his source: Spalding Club
Miscellany, ii, pg. 315, which source I have not consulted.

Following c. 1300, there are several appearances of Sir William de
Montfichet, Knt. in various charters dated c.1307x1312, as shown
below:

1. ' [Sir] Willelmo de monte fixo [knight]', witness together with
David, Earl of Athol, Sir Alexander de Abernethy, Roger de Mortimer
and others to a charter of Michael de Miggil granting free passage
through his lands to Coupar priory, dated 1306x1317 - but most  likely
between 1307 and 1312 [Reference: D.A. Easson, Charters of the Abbey
of Coupar Angus, 1 (Scottish Hist. Soc. 3rd ser. 40) (1947): 190-191,
No. LXXXVIII].

2. ' [Sir] Willelmo de monte fixo [knight]', witness together with
David, Earl of Athol, Sir Alexander de Abernethy, Roger de Mortimer
and others to a charter of John de Inchmartin granting free passage
through his lands to Coupar priory, dated 1307x1317 - but most  likely
between 1307 and 1312  [Reference: D.A. Easson, Charters of the Abbey
of Coupar Angus, 1 (Scottish Hist. Soc. 3rd ser. 40) (1947): 192-193,
No.LXXXIX].

3. ' [Sir] Willelmo de monte fixo [knight]', witness together with
David, Earl of Athol, Sir Alexander de Abernethy, Roger de Mortimer
and others to a 2nd charter of John de Inchmartin granting free
passage through his lands to Coupar priory, dated 1307x1317 - but
most likely between 1307 and 1312 [ [Reference: D.A. Easson, Charters
of the Abbey of Coupar Angus, 1 (Scottish Hist. Soc. 3rd ser. 40)
(1947): 193, No. XC].

John Ravilious has assumed that the Sir William de Montfichet, Knt.
who witnessed these charters is the William de Montfitchet in the next
generation, but this not necessarily the case.   We know that Sir John
Fitz Marmaduke, father of Sir Richard Fitz Marmaduke, was appointed
Governor of St. John's Town in Perthshire in 1310.   Sir John Fitz
Marmaduke first occurs in records as an adult in 1278.  William de
Montfichet was likewise appointed Governor of the Town of Dundee in
Scotland in 1311-1312 [Reference: Charters, Writs, & Public Documents
of the Royal Burgh of Dundee (1880): 7-8].   Since their children
likely intermarried, there is no reason to think that William de
Montfichet who witnessed charters c.1300 and 1307-1312, and who served
as Governor of Dundee in 1311-1312 is the William de Montfichet of the
next generation.  Rather, it appears possible if not likely that the
man who occurs c.1300-c.1312 is the same man as the William de
Montfichet was was living in 1287.

As far as when the William de Montfichet in next generation first
occurs, I note that a William de Montfichet occurs as Justiciary on
the north side of the Forth in 1319-1333 [Reference: Easson, ibid.,
pg. 191].  Assuming this individual was aged about 40 when he first
occurs as justice, it would peg his birth as c.1280.  If so, he would
be be a bit young to be the Governor of Dundee in 1311-1312.

An example of another early Governor of Dundee is Sir Gilbert de
Umfreville, Knt., Earl of Angus, who served as Governor of Dundee in
1291.  Sir Gilbert de Umfreville is thought to have been born about
1244, which date of birth would place him as being aged about 47 when
he served as Governor.

Best always, Douglas Richardson, Salt Lake City, Utah

.

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