William I, 1st lord of Douglas

Biography

William of Douglas (d.c.1214) was a Medieval nobleman living in Clydesdale, an area under the control of the King of the Scots.

Extracted from "William I, Lord of Douglas," Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia,< link > (accessed August 13, 2024) and then annotated.

Enigmatic origins

The origins of William are uncertain, the first of the name of Douglas to appear on historic record. He appears as witness to a charter of Jocelin, Bishop of Glasgow in 1174 in favour of the monks of Kelso Abbey, at which time he was in possession of the Lands of Douglas.

It seems he was the son of Theobald le Fleming (born 1120, Aldingham Manor, Lancashire, England died 1193, Douglasdale, Midlothian, Scotland) and his wife, the sister of Freskin de Kersdale (of Moray). DNA test evidence (Murray & Douglas descendants) suggests this is not likely. But his wife may have been that sister.

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Sholto/William

David Hume of Godscroft in his history refers to the progenitor of the House of Douglas, Sholto. Gleaned from the works of Buchanan and Boece, Godscroft's narrative explains that during the reign of a King Solvathius, Sholto Douglas was instrumental in putting down an uprising by a usurper Donald Bain in 767AD, and as reward was granted the lands that would after be called Douglas.[2]

Both Balfour Paul and Maxwell agree that this origin tale is mythic, but do contest that William of Douglas was active at the time of the real rebellion of the Meic Uilleim, under their chief Domnall mac Uilleim. The earlier historians may have confused the mythic Donald Bain with Domnall Bán mac Domnaill, the penultimate Meic Uilleim chief.

This may be corroborated by the facts that the lands of Douglas marched with those of the leader of King William I of Scotland's retaliatory forces, Lochlann, Lord of Galloway. William may well have been a vassal of the Lord of Galloway. Furthermore, all of William's sons with the exception of the eldest were to hold privileged ecclesiastic positions within the former Meic Uilleim territories in Moray.

"Although William de Douglas was the first known owner of Douglasdale, holding that land between 1174 and 1213, there is no reason to doubt that his father was "Theobaldo Flamatico" or Theobald the Fleming. The family's arms indicate the kinship with Murray and a descent like that of Brodie and Innes, from a third son of the house of Boulogne. In Flanders, there was a family of the Theobalds who were hereditary castellans of Ypres between about 1060 and 1127, after which their history becomes obscure. Theobald's lands in Scotland were granted to him soon after 1150 by the Abbot of Kelso."

William de Douglas, the heir, [SIC] having married the sister of Friskin de Kerdale or Freskin of Moray, had by her six sons; the five younger of them all went to Moray to support their uncle there and his own heir, Archenbald, stayed in Lanarkshire to inherit the Douglas estates. Archenbald married a daughter of Sir John Crawford.

Family

William of Douglas may have married a sister of Freskin of Kerdal, a Flemish laird from Moray.[3] He had issue: [amended to chronological order for males, then for females]

1. Archibald I (-1213), Lord of Douglas, married Margaret, daughter of Sir John Crawford of Crawford
2. Hugh de Douglas (ca. –1245), a canon of Spynie, Archdeacon of Moray
3. Bricius de Douglas (ca. –1222), Bishop of Moray
4. Alexander de Douglas (ca. –1238), a canon of Spynie, vicar capitular of Elgin
5. Henry de Douglas (ca. –1245), a canon of Spynie
6. Freskin de Douglas (-September 1232), parson of Douglas, later Dean of Moray
7. Margaret de Douglas (-1260), married Hervey de Keith, Marischal of Scotland[4]

< Medlands >(see below) has no birth dates for any of the children, so they've been removed.

William Douglas, 1st of Douglas; born 1174; died 1213. [Burke's Peerage]

Jim Weber copied the following from "Douglas Family" by Mark Freeman, freepages.genalogy.rootsweb.com/~markfreeman/douglas.html:

"Notes for William de Duglas:

"The first recorded use of the Douglas surname was by William de Duglas, who signed numerous official charters between 1175 and 1213. William, who died in 1214, was the father to six sons and a daughter. Along with Archibald de Douglas, heir to the Douglas estates, there were Brice (Bishop of Moray), Alexander (Canon of Spynie and Vicar of Elgin), Henry (Canon of Spynie and Clerk of Bishop), Hugh (Archdeacon of Moray), Freskin (Dean of Moray), and Margaret.

http://amg1.net/flemfam.htm (dead link)

"Although William de Douglas was the first known owner of Douglasdale, holding that land between 1174 and 1213, there is no reason to doubt that his father was Theobaldo Flamatico or Theobald the Fleming. The family's arms indicate the kinship with Murray and a descent like that of Brodie and Innes, from a third son of the house of Boulogne. In Flanders there was a family of the Theobalds who were hereditary castellans of Ypres between about 1060 and 1127, after which their history becomes obscure. Theobald's lands in Scotland were granted to him soon after 1150 by the Abbot of Kelso. William de Douglas, the heir, having married the sister of Friskin de Kerdale or Freskin of Moray, had by her six sons; the five younger of them all went to Moray to support their uncle there and his own heir, Archenbald, stayed in Lanarkshire to inherit the Douglas estates. He married a daughter of Sir John Crawford."

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Extracted from Cawley's Medlands - SCOTLAND, EARLS CREATED 162-1398 v4.3 Updated 09 May 2022 Medlands - Chapter 6. Douglas retrieved 12 August 2024

A. Origins

Fraser discusses various theories about the origin of the Douglas family[491], the earliest of which is Andrew Wyntoun’s [1420/24] Cronykil which links the origins of the "Murrawe and the Douglas" families and indicates that they were "of kyn be descens lyneale, Or be branchys collaterale” because both families bore “the sternys set in lyk manere”[492]. Fraser discusses the early development of Morayshire, under the Moray/de Moravia family [see EARLS of SUTHERLAND in the present document], speculates on the origin of Freskin [IV] of Cardell [shown below as the possible brother-in-law of William de Douglas], and discusses the differences between the stars displayed on the arms of the two families (which suggests that Wyntoun may have exaggerated the similarity)[493]. Later theories about the Douglas’s family origin include a Flemish connection, and a native/celtic or Northumbrian origin, but Fraser concludes that none provides a satisfactory explanation[494]. The connection between the Moray/Moravia and Douglas families appears best explained by William de Douglas’s marriage, as noted below, rather than a common ancestry, which leaves William’s own ancestry unexplained.

WILLIAM [I] de Douglas (-after 6 Nov 1213). Bearing in mind the absence of credible date naming earlier members of the Douglas family as explained above, Fraser suggests that William’s acquisition of “the lands of Douglas...by grant from King William the Lion...is quite probable”, which would explain “the sudden rise of the Douglas family into political importance”, and that he may have been rewarded for “a prominent part in quelling the insurrection of Macwilliam or Donald Bane which took place in his time”[495]. "…Will de Dusglas…" witnessed the undated charter, dated to [1174/99], under which Jocelyn Bishop of Glasgow confirmed the donation of "capellam castelli de Pebles" to Kelso abbey[496]. "…Domino Willielmo de Doneglass…" witnessed the undated charter under which "Maldovenus comes de Levenax" granted land "in Levenax…Buthernockis et…Kyncaith" to "Wilielmo filio Arthuri filii Galbrait"[497]. “...Willelmus de Duneglas, Archibaldus de Duneglas...” witnessed the charter dated 6 Nov 1213 which records an agreement between “Mauricium comitem de Manenthe et Mauricium juniorem fratrem eius” concerning the earldom of Menteith (inspeximus dated 20 Sep 1261)[498].

m [-, sister of Freskin [IV] of Cardell, daughter of -. The name of William’s wife is not known. Her family origin is indicated by the undated charter under which her son Brice Bishop of Moray confirmed "ecclesiam de Deveth" to the church of Moray at the request of "Freskyni de Kerdal avunculi nostri"[499]. Fraser dates this charter to [1203/22][500]. If “avunculus” in this document was used in its strict sense of maternal uncle, Freskin of Cardell was the brother of the bishop’s mother.]

William [I] & his wife had [seven] children:

1. ARCHIBALD de Douglas (-[1238/2 Mar 1239]). ... m -. The primary source which confirms that name of Archibald’s wife has not been identified. Fraser says that he “is said to have married Margaret, elder daughter of Sir John Crawford of Crawford-John”[510]. ...
2. BRICE Douglas (-1222). Prior of Leamahagu. Bishop of Moray 1203. ...
3. HUGH Douglas (-[1238?]). ...
4. FRESKIN Douglas (-[before 12 Sep 1232]). ... Fraser records other documents in which Freskin was named dean of Moray, adding that he “appears to have died before...September 1232”, citing a document dated 12 Sep 1232 which names “domino S. decano Moraviensis ecclesie”[521].
5. HENRY Douglas (-after 30 Dec 1239). ... Henrico de Duglas et Matheo clericis nostris" witnessed the charter dated 30 Dec 1239 confirming "ecclesiam de Ferneway..." and others to Elgin Holy Trinity[525].
6. ALEXANDER Douglas (-after 1237). ... A charter dated 1237 records an exchange of land settling a dispute between the bishop of Moray and the hospital of Elgin, under which (among other provisions) the bishop received "terram de Kelleys" which had been granted by King Alexander II to "Alexander de Duglas" and the hospital[529].
7. [MARGARET . Nisbet’s Heraldry says that Hervey Keith married “Margaret, daughter of William of Douglas”, but Balfour Paul says that “this seems very doubtful”[530]. In any case, the chronology of the two families suggests that a daughter of William de Douglas would have been much younger than Hervey Keith. m HERVEY Keith, son of --- (-[1199 or after]).]

References

1. https://fmg.ac/Projects/MedLands/SCOTTISH%20NOBILITY%20LATER.htm#_f...
2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_I,_Lord_of_Douglas cites
   1. Liber S. Marie de Calchou, Registrum Cartarum Abbacie Tironensis de Kelso ii vols, ed. Innes. Bannatyne Club. Edinburgh 1846. p. 346. < Archive.Org >
   2. Balfour Paul, Sir James, Scots Peerage IX vols. Edinburgh 1907
   3. Fraser, Sir William. The Douglas Book IV Vols. Edinburgh 1885. vol I, p.37 < Archive.Org >; vol I, p. 43. < Archive.Org >
   4. Hume of Godscroft, David, A History of the House and Race of Douglas and Angus. London 1820 [2] pp. 4-6. < Archive.Org >
   5. Maxwell, Sir Herbert, A History of the House of Douglas II vols. London 1902 [3]. "The Flemish Settlers" page 5 - 12 < Archive.Org >. "The utmost that can be urged is a strong probability, supported by the Christian Names, that the houses of Moray and Douglas were derived from a common Flemish or Frisian stock." [But see comments on recent Y DNA testing.]
   6. Stirnet: Douglas01
3. Cokayne, George Edward, The Complete Peerage (London, St. Catherine Press, 1916) Ed. 2 Vol IV, p. 432 < Archiive.Org >
4. Sir James Balfour Paul, Editor, 1906, The Scots Peerage, founded on Wood's edition of Sir Robert Douglas's Peerage of Scotland, Published by David Douglas, Edinburgh, Scotland>William de Douglas, Vol III, pps 132-5 < Archive.Org >
5. Type: Web Site Author: Jim Weber Title: T bhe Phillips, Weber, Kirk & Staggs Famlies URL http:://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=jweber&id (dead link) Date: Sep 19, 2010 Detail: Jim Weber cites numerous sources for his data. See his posting for details.
6. Most of the information on Kings & Queens of Scotland, Irel and, Wales, England and other parts of the British Isle s & Europe and on the various Royal & Noble families in thi s family tree has come from one or more of the following so urces:BURKE'S Genealogical and Heraldic History of the PEER AGE BARONETAGE AND KNIGHTAGE. Edited by Peter Townend. Burke's Peerage Limited, London "Burke's Peerage" popular name.
7. Also information from Burke's Landed Gentry Burke's Peerage Limited, London
8. Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage, ISBN: 0312125577 Debrett's Peerage Ltd 86/88 Edgware Road London W2 2YW For further information on Debrett's e-mail people@debretts.co.uk Phone # +44 (0)171 916 9633. http://www.debretts.co.uk/index.html
9. Directory of Royal Genealogical Data (Edinburgh Mirror) http://www.tardis.ed.ac.uk/~bct/public/genealogy/royal/ Version: 29 Jul 99 Author: Brian TompsettBack: Royal and No ble genealogy Copyright (c) 1994 - 1999This is part of Roya l and Noble Genealogical Data on the Web at http://www.dcs.hull.ac.uk/public/genealogy/gedcom.html (dead link)
10. Royal Genealogies -- Menu http://ftp.cac.psu.edu/~saw/royal/royalgen.html Denis R. Reid 149 Kimrose Lane Broadview Heights, Ohio 44147-1258 Internet Email address: ah189@cleveland.freenet.edu (216) 237-5364
11. Burke's possibly now published or distributed by Almanach De Gotha Ltd, 9 Cork Street,Mayfair, London, W1X 1PD United Kingdom. Tel (UK) 0181 404 2489 (International) +44(0) 181 404 2489 http://www.almanachdegotha.com/main_page.htm
12. http://www.douglashistory.co.uk/history/williamdedouglas.htm
13. Scot's peerage shows his mother being born 1175. He was born 1145.
14. http://roots-boots.net/ft/l-dougls.txt
15. http://www.montyhistnotes.com/genealogy/getperson.php?personID=I442...
16. http://www.wallacegreinerfamily.com/getperson.php?personID=I864&tre...
17. https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Douglas-108
    1. A comment at https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Douglas-108 may explain how both the mother and wife show in older pedigrees as "de Moravia" (Moray). ... Freskin's known son William de Moravia, was founder of the Murrays of Bothwell , as well as the Earls' of Sutherland. This William, son of Freskin was contemporary with the above William 1st of Douglas, and therefore there were TWO different men named William signing documents during the same era, one designated as 'of Douglas, and the other as William son of Freskin. Which is evidence that Freskin did not have TWO sons named William who signed the same document as Witnesses, on the same day or during the same time-frame. Therefore William 1st of Douglas can not be the son of Freskin de Moravia accordingly. This evidence is reinforced via the YDNA evidence undertaken by a large number of Douglas men through Family Tree DNA. The YDNA does not match. ..." Source: May 2013- YDNA evidence found linking Sutherland of Moray Firth men with Douglas of Morton descendants- paper by Alexandrina Murray., Murray Clan DNA Research Project at Family Tree DNA . Published on University of St Andrews website for 2016 Flemish in Scotland Conference May 2016. Link to PDF of this paper can be provided.
18. https://www.douglashistory.co.uk/famgen/getperson.php?personID=I119...
19. PoMS, no. 1311 (https://poms.ac.uk/record/person/1311/; accessed 13 August 2024)