Medecalfe descent

WILLIAM MEDECALFE DE DENT was a forefather of JANE METCALFE, grandmother of David Walker. His descent is not quite clear as it is weaved in the tight network of ancient Northumbrian families determining history of that time, but it seems to be comprehensible up to a certain point.

The Kingdom of Northumbria (picture shows the kingdom of Northumbria in
A.D. 802) was a medieval Anglian kingdom, in what is now northern England and south-east Scotland, becoming subsequently an earldom in a unified English kingdom. The name reflects the approximate southern limit to the kingdom's territory, the Humber estuary.

Northumbria was formed by Æthelfrith (fl. 593-616) in central Great Britain in Anglo-Saxon times. At the beginning of the 7th century the two kingdoms of Bernicia and Deira were unified.

Following the destruction of the kingdom of Northumbria by the Vikings in 867, they established the Kingdom of York in southern Northumbria, but English rulers held on in the north, the former kingdom of Bernicia, from their base at Bamburgh.

OSULF I. Of BAMBURGH (fl. 946—54) was high-reeve of Bamburgh and ruler of Northumbria. Sometimes called "earl", he is more surely the first recorded high-reeve of Bamburgh and the man who, after assisting in the death of its last independent ruler Erik Bloodaxe, administered the York-based Kingdom of Northumbria, when it was taken over by the Wessex-based King Eadred of England in 954.

The date of Osulf's death is not known. He was probably dead before 963/966, as that is the date Oslac appears for the first time as ealdorman in York and its dependent territories. These included, but may not have been limited, to the southern half of Northumbria. It is unclear whether Oslac (fl. 963/966-975) was related to Osulf. According to the De primo Saxonum adventu, Northumbria was divided into two parts after Osulf's death. Osulf had at least one son though, WALTHEOF, who ruled Bamburgh from c. 975 onwards.

WALTHEOF OF BAMBURGH (fl. c. 975-994) was high-reeve or ealdorman of Bamburgh. His name is Scandinavian and implies that he had Viking ancestors. Nothing is known about Waltheof I's period in office though. They were variously described as earls or ealdormen or high-reeves, and their independence from the kings of England and Scotland is uncertain. He died in or after 1006, because according 'De Obsessione Dunelmi' King Æthelred gave to his son Uctred the earldom of Bamburgh and of York, while his father was still alive. Waltheof of Bamburgh had at least two sons:
(1)   UCTRED OF BAMBURGH, EARL OF NORTHUMBRIA (fl. 1006-1016)

(St Cuthbert's shrine in Durham Cathedral)        Orm restored the old Saxon church of Kirkdale (picture), near Helmsley, which is still standing,

II.     c. 1006 to SIGE, daughter of Styr son of Ulf (Ulphus), „a wealthy and prominent man“, who gave his daughter to Uctred on the condition that he would kill Styr's leading enemy Thurbrand. Apparently, Styr was a prominent courtier of Æthelred II in the north and it appears that Uctred was trying to make political allies amongst the Danes in Deira. Styr was called civis divitis, literally a rich citizen. In consequence, some later historians have therefore identified Styr as a "York citizen", even as "a leader of the Danes of York". But in the eleventh century, civis meant also often prominent landholder, which might also point to a rural landholder like 'Styr of Stearsby', ten miles north of York. In 1003, Styr Ulfsson granted Dearthingtun (Darlington) to the Bishop of Durham at a ceremony in York and gave also land at Coniscliffe, Cockerton, Normanby and Seaton. Styr's origin is not clear. It is known that he was a son of Ulf (Ulphus), who had in all probability his influential sphere also in the area of York, but even this cannot be verified. Nevertheless some genealogists try to tie Styr to that Ulphus, who sealed his transfer of lands with the 'Horn of Ulphus', and based their assumption on the fact that the horn was ascribed usually to the tenth or early eleventh century. However in the meantime, art-historical scholarship prefers to date the horn rather to c. 1080, which would be by far too late having been endowed originally by Sige's grandfather.
NOTE: The 'Horn of Ulf' was a deed of transfer (picture), and remains in the York Minster today. It is of ivory, made out of an elephant’s tusk, believed to have been carved by Islamic carvers in Salerno. It had travelled some distance then to Jorvik to the lands of Ulf. Ulf owned large estates around York and throughout Yorkshire. But the story goes that Ulf happened to overhear his two sons Archil and Norman discussing how they would divide up his land after his death. It bears an inscription, „Ulf, a prince in Western Deira, gave this horn with his lands."

Through Sige, Uctred had two children:
II.1.     Eadulf, later Eadulf III of Bernica (fl. 1038-1041), second husband of Sigrida, daughter of his step-mother Ecgfrida and Kilvert, son of Ligulf; according to the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, he was betrayed by King Harthacnut and killed. He was the last of the ancient Bernician line of earls to rule before his son Osulf usurped the Northumbrian earldom in 1067.
II.1.1.     Osulf, Earl of Bamburgh (fl. 1065-1067); in 1065, Morcar succeeded Tostig as Earl of all Northumbria, and he appointed Osulf to rule the portion north of the River Tyne. However, because of Morcar’s resistance to the Norman invasion of England by William the Conqueror in 1066, he was deposed and imprisoned. William then appointed Copsi (sometimes Copsig), Tostig’s former deputy, as Morcar's replacement. In February 1067, Copsi came north and forced Osulf to seek shelter in the hills. Osulf began to gather an army. Because Copsi was seen as an invader and a tax-gatherer for William, he was deeply unpopular amongst the Northumbrians north and south of the Tees, and Osulf had no trouble in gathering recruits. On March 12 he surprised Copsi and his men at a banquet at Newburn-upon-Tyne. Copsi fled to a nearby church, but this was set on fire, forcing Copsi out. Osulf then had Copsi's head cut off. Osulf appears to have seized control of the earldom of Bamburgh, and was not threatened by any expeditions to remove him. However in the autumn of 1067, Osulf, who appears to have been carrying out his duties as earl, intercepted an outlaw and was run through by the man’s spear. He was succeeded as earl by his cousin, GOSPATRIC, EARL OF NORTHUMBRIA, who purchased the earldom from King William.
II.2.     Gospatric of Bamburgh, who soon after Christmas 1064 was allegedly killed on behalf of Tostig, Earl of Northumbria (fl. 1055-1065); this murder by Tostig led to a great northern revolt against Edward the Confessor, a revolt that turned both King Edward and Harold Godwinson against Tostig and led to the appointment of the Mercian, Morcar, as Earl of northern England.
NOTE: The 'Life of Edward the Confessor', commissioned by Queen Edith, contains an account of the pilgrimage to Rome of Tostig Godwinson, Earl of Northumbria. It tells how a band of robbers attacked Tostig's party in Italy, seeking to kidnap the Earl. A certain Gospatric "was believed because of the luxury of his clothes and his physical appearance, which was indeed distinguished" to be Earl Tostig, and succeeded in deceiving the would-be kidnappers as to his identity until the real Earl was safely away from the scene. Whether this was the same Gospatric, or a kinsman of the same name, is unclear, but it is suggested that his presence in Tostig's party was as a hostage as much as a guest. Gospatric was in all probablity the father of:
II.2.1.     Eadulf Rus of Bamburgh (born c 1040 or earlier - c. 1080), who is is primarily remembered for his involvement in the death of William Walcher, Earl of Northumbria and Bishop of Durham (died 14. May 1080). The source says that the attack occurred as revenge for the murder of Walcher's English right-hand man, Ligulf of Lumley. Eadulf Rus was the first to take the name 'Swinton', having been granted the barony
(c. 1060) by his cousin, Malcolm III of Scotland, in return for military support.
NOTE:   While the 'De primo Saxonum adventu' (written in Durham, 1099-1128) claims that William Walcer was killed by Eadulf 'son of Gospatric' the 'Historia Regum' (written in Durham at about the same time) names Eadulf 'cognomento Rus' as the killer and states that he was Gospatric's grandson by his son Uctred, who shall have had an other son called Dolfin. Although nothing concrete is known about this Dolfin he is still later sometimes assumed to be DOLFIN OF STAINDROP, Lord of Raby, what seems to be rather doubtful though.

III.     c. 1014 to ÆLFGIFU OF WESSEX, daughter of Ethelred 'the Unready', King of England; he shall have married her, after King Ethelred returned from exile and resumed his reign in 1014. Uctred and Ælfgifu had one daughter:
III.1.     ÆTHELREDA (or Ældgyth) born c. 1015, who was married to MALDRED OF ALLERALE, regent of Strathclyde; as girls were not considered to be nubile until aged twelve or thirteen them days the marriage seems to be likely to make a tactical alliance, because her family would ally with an important dynasty on Northumbria's west flank based in Strathclyde / Cumbria. Æthelreda and Maldred had children:
III.1.1.     GOSPATRIC OF ALLERDALE, EARL OF NORTHUMBRIA, Mormaor of Dunbar born between not much before c. 1030 and latest 1045, the year his father died.
III.1.1.1   DOLFIN OF CARLISLE, LORD OF CUMBERLAND AND WESTMORELAND; the Metcalfe Society assumes him to be the father of WILLIAM fils MALDRED, but it is rather doubtful.
III.1.1.1.1.     Edgar fitzDolfin
III.1.1.1.2.     Gospatric fitzDolfin
III.1.1.1.3.     Ketel (Chetil) de Letham (Leitholm) , from whom is descended the very ancient and knightly family of 'Strickland' of Sizergh. Ketel was enfeoffed with the English Manor of Great Strickland (near Appleby), together with other lands in Westmorland, by William de Lancaster of Kendal (d. 1170). He received from the Dunbars, who were its overlords, the Berwickshire Manor of Letham, or Leteham (now Leitholm), in the parish of Eccles. Owing to his tenure of Letham, Ketel son of Dolfin frequently appears as a witness to the 12th century charters of his powerful relatives, the Earls of Dunbar. An agreement between Earl Waldeve and the monks of Coldingham, concerning land in Raynington, had as witnesses, among others, Ketel de Letham and Ketel filio suo, from which it is clear that there were two successive Ketels of Leitholm, father and son. The wife of one of these Ketels (probably the younger) was called Ada. Ketel (sen.) was also the father of Uctred de Strickland, upon whom his father seems to have settled the family's lands in the Barony of Kendal, including the Manor of Great Strickland. "Know those living as well as those to come that I Uchtred son of Ketell have given and granted and by this my present charter have confirmed to Gilbert de Lancaster and his heirs the fourth part of all the land which William de Lancaster gave to my father Ketell in Stirkland; in lands and tenements in woodland and cleared land in meadows and fields and pastures, in road and way in water and pasturage and in all liberties, for his homage and service; he paying yearly 6 pence; viz 3d. at Easter and 3d. at Michaelmas - saving forensic service. [As witness these: Richard Mustel, Richard son of Helsi, William son of Ketell, Robert de Morvill, Adam de Asctuait, Bernard son of Ketell, and many others.]

III.1.1.1.4.    Hamon fitzDolfin de Lowther; a fine of 1202, concerning land in Lowther, reference is made to land there belonging to Hamon, son of Dolfin (Yorkshire Fines, Surtees Society xciv 61)
NOTE: The village 'bearning the name' of Lowther lies 24 miles south of Carlisle, 'four miles south of Penrith, and just south of the borders between Cumberland and Westmorland, countries which now form the major part of Cumbria. The first recorded use of the name was in 1157; it was in a reference to the river and the word is believed to mean 'foaming water'. The oldest part of the present church at Lowther dates from about 1170. III.1.1.2.     Gospatric, Earl of Lothian and Dunbar; died 1138 being "struck by an arrow, he fell". He had children:
III.1.1.2.1.     Gospatric III, who succeeded to the earldom of Dunbar; he appeared for the first time as a witness in a charter representing his father's grant to Coldingham Priory. After his father's death in 1138, he inherited his father's territories in Northumberland, East Lothian and the Scottish Borders. He bore the title "Earl of Lothian" on his seal. The following year "the son of earl Gospatric and the son of Hugh de Morville and the son of earl Fergus (of Galloway)" were asked to go as hostages in negotiations with King Stephen of England. He married a Scottish woman called Deirdre, and by her fathered two sons, Waltheof, Earl of Dunbar and Lord of Beanley (d. 1182) and Patrick. Gospatric was a great religious patron, granting lands to many of his neighbouring abbeys. He even appears to have become a monk himself, and when he died here in 1166 he was probably already part of the monastic community where he was buried, at Durham.
III.1.1.2.2.     Adam, at first called Waldeve, but who for some reason, perhaps a religious one, changed his name. He was the parish priest of Dunbar, whose death was recorded in 1179. He witnessed several charters and his name appears in several deeds, but nothing further is known of him.
III.1.1.2.3.     Edward, who held the lands of Edlingham, Hedgley, Harehope, and others, in Northumberland, and also lands in Scotland, not named, but apparently near Dunbar, which the monks of Melrose held from him in feufarm. He granted to the monks of May, for himself and his children, and for the soul of his wife Sibilla, a chalder of meal from his mill of Beletun, or Belton, near Dunbar, each year at the Feast of St. Cuthbert. Some time before 1176 he and his son Waldeve had a dispute with his brother Edgar as to the right to certain lands, but Edgar's claim was disallowed. Edward had issue by Sibilla, his wife, a son, Waldeve, who consented to the charter to the monks of May. He apparently had a son, named John, son of Waldeve, who died not long before 1247, and Edward's descendants held Edlingham and other lands for some generations.
III.1.1.2.4.     Edgar, who had also the flattering sobriquet of 'Unnithin' or 'Edgar the Dauntless'. He is first named in 1138, when Richard of Hexham, who styles him, probably with more anger than truth, a bastard, 'nothus', tells of his wicked plundering and destroying of lands belonging to the Abbey. He held Bewick and Eglingham from the monks of St. Albans in feu, but these were forfeited in 1174. He held also other lands in the same neighbourhood. The date of his death has not been ascertained. He married Aliz, daughter of Ivo, son of Forne, and with her obtained ten manors, five of which were in Northumberland, in Ooquetdale, and the others situated in Yorkshire, Westmoreland, and Cumberland. He had two sons: Alexander, who died without issue, and Patrick, who succeeded his father Edgar in the lands of Caistron. He or his descendants took the name of Caistron or Kestern, the last owner of the lands, John of Kestern, parting with them to the Abbey of Newminster about 1247, or a little later.                                                    
III.1.1.2.5.     Juliana, who was given in marriage by King Henry I. to Ralph or Ranulf de Merlay, Lord of Morpeth, by a writ, in which she is described as daughter of Earl Gospatric. Her dowry consisted of Witton, Wyndgates, Horsley, Stanton, Ritton, and Lever Ohilde. She and her husband founded the Cistercian monastery of Newminster in 1137/1138, and were buried there, in the north part of the chapter-house. They had issue.
III.1.1.3.     Waltheof of Allerdale (died 1138); according to the Chronicon Cumbrie, Waldeve or Waitheof of Allerdale, c. 1100, gave to his sister Gunhilda, in marriage with Orm son of Ketel (son of Eldred), the Cumbrian manors of Seaton, Camerton, Flimby, and Greysouthen; and the same Waldeve also granted to another sister Maud, wife of Dolfin son of Ailward, the adjacent Cumbrian manors of Little Crosby, Langrigg, and Brigham. Besides he granted some land in Allerdale, and a house for herring-fishery, to the Priory of Hexham. He, with his wife and his two sons, also granted to the church of Brydekirk, in Allerdale, the villa of Appleton and its surroundings. He is named in the Inquisition by Earl David, afterwards King, as to the possessions of the see of Glasgow, made between 1120 and 1124. He was present with King David I. of Scotland at Dunfermline, about 1126 or later, and this appears to be the latest notice of him. It has been asserted that he became Abbot of Oroyland in 1124 and was deposed in 1138, but there is good reason for believing that the Abbot must have been another Waldeve. His wife's name was Sigrid or Sigarith, who survived him and married Roger, son of Gilbert. Waltheof of Allerdale had issue:                                 
III.1.1.3.1.     Alan of Allerdale, who is principally known from the large dowries he gave to his sisters, and his grants to his brother and to the priory of Carlisle. He and his brother Gospatric appear as witnesses to a charter of King David I. on 16 August 1139. He had a son Waldeve, who predeceased him, and his male line ceased.
III.1.1.3.2.     Uchtred; 'Uchtred filius Waldef' is mentioned as witness in inquisitions by "David … Cumbrensis regionis princeps", dated 1124, concerning land owned by the church of Glasgow. He was the father of Helias, progenitor of the family of Dundas.
III.1.1.3.3.     Gospatric, who is said to have been a bastard, though this is doubtful. He received from his brother Alan, the lands of Bolton, Bassenthwaite, and others in Derwent water. He is styled Gospatric, son of Waldeve, when he appears as a witness in two charters by King David I., about 1130, and he and his brother are witnesses on 16 August 1139. Gospatric lived still in or after 1154, as he is a witness to a charter by King Malcolm IV., between that year and 1158, to the monks of Dunfermline. About the same time the King addressed a letter to him and to the Abbot of Dunfermline, ferryers of the seaports, i.e. lords of the ferries, directing them to pass Robert, Bishop of St. Andrews, and his men, free of charge. This writ suggests that he was then the owner of Dundas, commanding the south side of the Queen's ferry. It is therefore probable he was the father of Waldeve, son of Gospatric, who held the lands in Scotland of Inverkeithing and Dalmeny, and who granted to the monks of Jedburgh the church of Bassenthwaite in Cumberland. He granted the lands of Dundas in West Lothian to Helias Fitz Huctred (Uctred), his nephew, in a charter in the reign of Malcolm IV (1153-65). Gospatric had issue, apparently only two daughters, Christiana (married to Duncan Lascelles) and Galiena (married to Philip Moubray).            
III.1.1.3.4.     Gunhilda of Dunbar, who married Uctred of Galloway (c. 1120-1174), who was sent as a boy as a hostage to the court of King Malcolm IV of Scotland. When his father, Prince Fergus, died in 1161, Uchtred was made co-ruler of Galloway along with his brother Gilla Brigte. They participated in the disastrous invasion of Northumberland under William I of Scotland in 1174. King William was captured, and the Galwegians rebelled, taking the opportunity to slaughter the Normans and English in their land. During this time Uchtred was brutally mutilated, blinded, castrated, and killed by his brother, who then seized control of Galloway entire. 
III.1.1.3.5.     Octreda married, first, to Randulf de Lindesay, and secondly, to William de Esseville or de Esseby.
III.1.1.4.     Maud (Matilda) married to Dolfin son of Aylward; Dovenby or Dolfinby has received its name from one of its possessors, Dolphin, son of Aylward, to whom it was given by Waltheof, lord of Allerdale, as a marriage dowy with his sister Maud, together with Applethwaite, Little Crosby, Langrigg, and Brigham, with the church there. His descendants, in the direct male line, were seated here until the reign of Henry III, when the manor passed by the marriage of an heiress to one Roger de Rolle. Maud's and Dolfin's children are enumerated in Canon Wilson's Register of St. Bees: viz. Walter, Prior of Carlisle, Orm, Gospatric, Ailward and Waldeve.
NOTE: Lithograph of Dovenby Hall sketched in 1855; (parts of) the Hall dates from 1154, and was used as private residence of Dolfin's family between 1154–1189 and 1216–1272.
III.1.1.5.     Ethelreda married to Duncan II of Scotland (c. 1060-1094), the son of King Malcolm Canmore. This marriage produced one son, William FitzDuncan, Earl of Moray, who was born around 1094 and died 1151 or later, as in that year King David I. restored to him his honour of Skipton and others. William FitzDuncan was married to Alice le Meschines, daughter of William le Meschines of Egremont, and had a son, who was later known as the 'Boy of Egremont'. As the male line ended with him his three sisters became heiresses of his father's estates in the barony of Copeland.
NOTE:   William FitzDuncan is said to have had also a large number of illegitimate children. Provided that he was not 'the Boy of Egremont' one of these was called Gospatric, because apart from 'Ulkil son of Maldred', 'Aldan, brother of Gospatric son of Crin', 'William son of King Duncan II' also William FitzDuncan's son, Gospatric, and some others witnessed August 1138 the grant of 'Gospatric the earl, brother of Dolfin' given to St Cuthbert and his monks (Durham Cathedral Priory) in alms. (Source: Raine, North Durham, App., no. 111).
III.1.1.6.     Octreda married to Waltheof son of Gillemin
III.1.1.7.     Gunhilda married to Orm son of Ketil (Chetil) of Workington (son of Eldred of Milburn co. Westmoreland under Earl Gospatrick); the charters of St. Bee's [#212] show that Chetel [Ketel] was the lord of Workington. He gave the church of Workington with 2 carucates of land and a mill to St. Mary's, York. This charter is also consented to by his wife Christina and his eldest son William both of whom witness the charter. This charter is also witnessed by Ivo fitz Forne of Greystoke dating it to ca. 1115-1120 as Ivo became lord of his father's lands in 1130. There is also proof that Ketel owned large amounts of land in Kendal. (Cal. of Charter Rolls, ii, 442). At the time of this charter [1115-1120]. Chetel must have been quite old as his younger son Orm witnessed a charter of Roger de Poictevin in 1094 (Farrer, Pipe Rolls of Lancashire, pp. 289-290). Gunilda and Orm had some children:                                            III.1.1.7.1.     Gospatric, 5^th Baron of Kendal; the 1157 Pipe Roll records "Gospat´z fil Ormi" in Carlisle. He is known as the ancestor of the 'Curwens' of Workington, in West Cumberland. The chronicler Jordan Fantosme records that during the invasion of the English border counties by William the Lion in 1174, "an old grey-headed Englishman," Gospatric son of Orm, had treacherously surrendered the castle of Appleby to the invading forces. He had at least five sons: Thomas, Gilbert, Adam, Orme and Alexander, "who took their surname of their father's name".
III.1.1.7.2.     Robert married to Christina, daughter of Anketin de Meynwarin
III.1.1.7.3.     Crin (Crinan); he was an educated man and had been appointed collector of dues at Prendergest. He had two known sons: Gospatric and Aldan (1113-1180), who became the progenitor of the Scottish Nisbet Clan.
(Nisbet Castle, located near Duns in Berwickshire)
 
III.1.2.     MALDRED OF WINLATON; sometimes also 'of Carlisle' born (like his brother) between not much before c. 1030 and latest 1045, the year his father died.
III.1.2.1.     Robert fitz Maldred, prior of Hexam
III.1.2.2.     Ulkil (Ulfkil) fitz Maldred
III.1.2.3.     UCTRED FITZ MALDRED
III.1.2.3.1.     Gospatric; "… Cospatric filius Uctred …" witnessed inquisitions by "David … Cumbrensis regionis princeps", dated 1124, concerning land owned by the church of Glasgow. But it cannot be excluded either that he was perhaps the son of 'Uchtred filius Waldef' mentioned above.
III.1.2.3.2.     DOLPHIN OF STAINDROP married to Adelica (Alice)
III.1.2.3.2.1.     MALDRED DE MIDDLETON, Lord of Raby married to JOAN DE STUTEVILLE
III.1.2.3.2.1.1.      Robert de Middleton, Lord of Raby married to the Norman heiress Isabell Neville; their son
Geoffrey de Neville inherited the estates of his mother's family as well as his father's, and adopted their surname, which was borne by his descendants thereafter.
NOTE: In Norman-ruled England a Norman surname was more prestigious and socially advantageous than an English one.
III.1.2.3.2.1.2.      Ralph de Middleton, chamberlain of Conan IV, Duke of Brittany, Earl of Richmond
III.1.2.3.2.1.3.      WILLIAM FILS MALDRED de Middleton, Carleton and Dent married to a Lady out of the House 'de Taillebois' being the parents of Thomas de Middleton, Robert de Middleton and WILLIAM MEDECALFE DE DENT.                       
III.1.2.3.2.2.     Gilbert de Middleton being the father of John and Henry de Middleton
III.1.2.3.2.3.     Patrick de Middleton; he died about 1190. Upon his marriage to Cecily de Offerton he became known as Sir Patrick de Offerton and Hirsel. Their eldest son, Sir William fitz Patrick de Hertburn died only a few years after his father. Upon his first marriage he gained lands at Hertburn near Stockton-on-Tees. His second marriage was to his kinswoman Marjory Margaret de Huntingdon, Countess of Richmond. It was her third marriage. Countess Margaret (1145–1201) was the daughter of Henry, 3rd Earl of Northumberland and Huntingdon, and sister of William the Lion, King of Scotland, and Malcolm IV, the Maiden King of Scotland. Her youngest brother, David Earl of Huntingdon, was the ancestor of the de Bruce and Balliol families.