My Maternal 18th. Great Scottish Grandfather, Baron Thomas Somerville, 1st. Lord of Somerville

 

Name: Lord Thomas Somerville, 1st. Lord of Somerville, son of Sir William Somerville and Katherine Halliday.

Born: January 1370 in Carnwarth, Lanarkshire, Scotland

Married: 1385 in Lanarkshire, Scotland to Lady Janet Stewart

Death: December 1444 in Carnwath, Lanarkshire, Scotland

Burial: December 1444 in Collegiate Church Cemetery

Carnwath, South Lanarkshire, Scotland 

"Some say his 1st wife was Janet, daughter of Sir Alexander Stewart of Darnley and was mother of his children.  From Doug Hickling: "Janet, daughter of Sir Alexander Stewart of Darnley by his first wife Johanna Turnbull, daughter of Sir Turnbull of Minto.   Sir Alexander was descended (in the male line) from Sir Alan Stewart, the second son of Sir John Stewart of Bonkyl and (in a female line) from Sir Walter Stewart,the fourth son of Sir Alan. The Somerville article in CP12:92, which was published in 1953 and is therefore one of the newer CP volumes, states  that William Somerville of Carnwath was the son and heir of Sir Thomas Somerville and his first wife, Janet, daughter of Sir Alexander Stewart of Darnley and was born in or before 1400.   At footnotes, the articles says that Sir Thomas married  Janet Stewart before July 1391, thus obtaining the barony of Cambusnethan.  The same note says that he married Mary Sinclair in 1407 and that it is unlikely that she was the mother of his son William. Sir Thomas' third wife, whom he married pursuant to a 2 November 1411 dispensation, was Elizabeth Keith, 4th daughter of Sir William Keith, who was the widow of Sir Nicholas Erskine of Kinnoull and of Sir Adam Gordon of Huntly."  source: 26 August 2013 by sesimons1239602

 

 Cambusnethan, Lanarkshire, Scotland

Baron Thomas Somerville, 1st. Lord of Somerville

Birth:	January 1370 Cambusnethan, Lanarkshire, Scotland
Death:	December 1444 (70-78) Cowthally Castle, Carnwath, Lanarkshire, Scotland
Place of Burial:	St. Mary's Aisle, Carnwath Parish Church, Carnwath, Lanarkshire, Scotland

Immediate Family:

Son of Sir William Somerville and Katherine Halliday, Heiress Husband of Mary Sinclair; Janet Stewart of Darnley and Elizabeth Keith of Aboyne & Cluny  Father of Sir William Somerville, 2nd Lord Somerville; Margaret Kirkpatrick, Lady; Agidea de Somerville; Thomas Somerville of Racklay; Mary Somerville and 2 others Brother of William de Somerville

Clan Somerville History This name Somerville derives from a town in Normandy, near Caen. During the Norman invasion of England in 1066, Sir Gaulter de Somerville accompanied the Duke of Normandy, William the Conqueror. William de Somerville, the second son of Sir Gaulter, came to Scotland with David I and was created Lord of Carnwath, receiving the lands near Carnwath in Clydesdale. He died around 1142 and was buried at Melrose Abbey.  Another William de Somerville was said to have killed the last serpent in Scotland, and went on to obtain the lands of Linton from Malcolm IV, in or around 1174. He later became chief falconer to the king and sheriff of Roxburgh.  At the Battle of Largs in 1263, a Sir William de Somerville, fifth of that name, fought for Alexander II, driving back the Norse invasion. The William de Somerville who fought at Largs, his son, Sir Thomas, was amongst the many Scottish nobles who were pressured into signing the Ragman Roll, pledging allegiance to England’s Edward I in 1296.  However, in 1297 he joined Sir William Wallace in Scotland’s fight for independence. The peerage of Lord Somerville was created for Sir Thomas, and probably in 1435, though this is uncertain. The third Lord Somerville, John, successfully fought the English at the Battle of Sark in the October of 1448, where he was wounded. He was also present at the siege of Roxburgh in 1460, where James II was killed.  John, the fourth Lord, died in 1523 without issue and his brother, Hugh, succeeded him. He was taken prisoner after the rout at Solway Moss in 1542. He was later released.  His son James – later the sixth Lord Somerville – opposed the Reformation and voted against the Scots Confession (a Confession of Faith) proposed in Parliament, which was drawn up by John Knox in 1560. James fought on the side of Mary I at the Battle of Langside, on 13th May, 1568, where he was severely wounded. Hugh Somerville, who became seventh Lord in 1569, also supported Queen Mary, but his allegiance changed and went to her son, James VI. Somerville was then appointed a Privy Councillor by the King. Being in the King’s favour, the Somervilles started living beyond their means, accumulating a big debt, causing them to sell their Carnwath estates. After the 1606 Union of the Crowns, the Scots nobility was ranked, however, the name Somerville did not appear. By 1723 the Somerville peerage was eventually acknowledged by the House of Lords and John, the thirteenth Lord Somerville, stood for election as a representative peer of Scotland. He built the elegant House of Drum which still stands on the outskirts of Edinburgh.  Other noted Somerville's include Mary Fairfax Somerville (1780-1872), from Jedburgh, who was a science writer and mathematician as well as a great pioneer of women’s education. Oxford University’s Somerville College, which was established in 1879, is named after her.  http://www.scotclans.com/scottish-clans/clan-somerville/somerville-history/

January 1370
Cambusnethan, Lanarkshire, Scotland

December 1444 (70-78)
Cowthally Castle, Carnwath, Lanarkshire, Scotland

St. Mary's Aisle, Carnwath Parish Church, Carnwath, Lanarkshire, Scotland

Son of Sir William Somerville and Katherine Halliday, Heiress
Husband of Mary Sinclair; Janet Stewart of Darnley and Elizabeth Keith of Aboyne & Cluny 
Father of Sir William Somerville, 2nd Lord Somerville; Margaret Kirkpatrick, Lady; Agidea de Somerville; Thomas Somerville of Racklay; Mary Somerville and 2 others Brother of William de Somerville 

Clan Somerville History

This name Somerville derives from a town in Normandy, near Caen. During the Norman invasion of England in 1066, Sir Gaulter de Somerville accompanied the Duke of Normandy, William the Conqueror.
William de Somerville, the second son of Sir Gaulter, came to Scotland with David I and was created Lord of Carnwath, receiving the lands near Carnwath in Clydesdale. He died around 1142 and was buried at Melrose Abbey. 

Another William de Somerville was said to have killed the last serpent in Scotland, and went on to obtain the lands of Linton from Malcolm IV, in or around 1174. He later became chief falconer to the king and sheriff of Roxburgh. 

At the Battle of Largs in 1263, a Sir William de Somerville, fifth of that name, fought for Alexander II, driving back the Norse invasion.

The William de Somerville who fought at Largs, his son, Sir Thomas, was amongst the many Scottish nobles who were pressured into signing the Ragman Roll, pledging allegiance to England’s Edward I in 1296. 

However, in 1297 he joined Sir William Wallace in Scotland’s fight for independence. The peerage of Lord Somerville was created for Sir Thomas, and probably in 1435, though this is uncertain.

The third Lord Somerville, John, successfully fought the English at the Battle of Sark in the October of 1448, where he was wounded. He was also present at the siege of Roxburgh in 1460, where James II was killed. 

John, the fourth Lord, died in 1523 without issue and his brother, Hugh, succeeded him. He was taken prisoner after the rout at Solway Moss in 1542. He was later released. 

His son James – later the sixth Lord Somerville – opposed the Reformation and voted against the Scots Confession (a Confession of Faith) proposed in Parliament, which was drawn up by John Knox in 1560. James fought on the side of Mary I at the Battle of Langside, on 13th May, 1568, where he was severely wounded.

Hugh Somerville, who became seventh Lord in 1569, also supported Queen Mary, but his allegiance changed and went to her son, James VI. Somerville was then appointed a Privy Councillor by the King. Being in the King’s favour, the Somervilles started living beyond their means, accumulating a big debt, causing them to sell their Carnwath estates. After the 1606 Union of the Crowns, the Scots nobility was ranked, however, the name Somerville did not appear.

By 1723 the Somerville peerage was eventually acknowledged by the House of Lords and John, the thirteenth Lord Somerville, stood for election as a representative peer of Scotland. He built the elegant House of Drum which still stands on the outskirts of Edinburgh. 

Other noted Somerville's include Mary Fairfax Somerville (1780-1872), from Jedburgh, who was a science writer and mathematician as well as a great pioneer of women’s education. Oxford University’s Somerville College, which was established in 1879, is named after her. 
http://www.scotclans.com/scottish-clans/clan-somerville/somerville-history/

My Maternal 27th. Great Scottish Grandfather, Lord Gualter de Somerville, Lord of Wychnor

 

Dinan et la rivière la Rance, vallée de la Rance, Côtes d'Armor, France

Gualter "Walter" de Somerville MP

Gender:	Male
Birth:	1030 Normandie, France
Immediate Family:	Son of Sir Gaulter "Walter" de Sémerville and Lady Sémerville Husband of Lady Sémerville Father of Sir Gualter de Somerville  Death: 1100 in Tatenhill, Staffordshire, England
Added by:	Pablo Benítez Barreto on July 3, 2008
Managed by:	Doug Robinson and 8 others
Curated by:	Jason Scott Wills

   Source: geni.com

According to tradition all of the families of the name in England, Scotland, Ireland and America trace their descent from Sir Gualter (Walter) de Somerville, who was rewarded for his service at the time of the Norman conquest of England, by grants of land at Wick-nor, in Staffordshire, and Aston Somerville, in Gloucestershire, England.

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Citation: http://linton-chronicles.com/LINTON_Family_Tree.html

• Lord Gaulter de SÉMERVILLE (1030-?) Ethnarch of Caen, in Sémerville Nord & Lady SÉMERVILLE (about 1030-?)

Children: Gaulter de SÉMERVILLE (1071-1165), Baron Whichnor of County Staffordshire, England
____________
Birthplace discussion: http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/SOMERVILLE/2007-11/1195708279

My Maternal 26th. Great Grandfather, Gaulter "Walter II" de Somerville, of Treovecerf

 

Highlands, Scotland

Name: Gualter "Walter II" de Somerville, Baron of Wychnor, Staffordshire, Scotland

Gender: Male
Birth: circa 1071 in Sémerville, Haute-Normandie, France
 
Death: 1165 (90-98) in Carnwath, Lanarkshire, Scotland 

Burial: 1165 (90-98) in Carnwath, Lanarkshire, Scotland 

Immediate Family:

Son of Sir Gualter de Somerville and Lady Sémerville
Husband of Cecily Somerville (Lunsie / Limesi), Heiress

Married: about 1100 in Whichnor, Staffordshire, England
Father of William de Somerville, Lord of Carnwath; Roger de Somerville, I and Walter Somervillle

Added by: Pablo Benítez Barreto on July 3, 2008
Managed by: Pablo Benítez Barreto and 9 others
Curated by: Jason Scott Wills

Source: geni.com

Citation: http://linton-chronicles.com/LINTON_Family_Tree.html
Lord Gaulter de SÉMERVILLE (1071-1165) Barron Wychnor of County Staffordshire, England &

Cecily de LUNSIE (1094-?) Heiress of Stockton from Lunsie, Warwickshire, England

Children:
William SOMERVILLE (1112-1176)
Walter SOMERVILLE (1114-1142)
Lord Roger SOMERVILLE (1118-1190) of Wychnor, Staffordshire, England 

My Maternal 24th. Great Scottish Grandfather, John de Somerville, 1st. Baron of Somerville

 

St. Mary's Church, Carnwath, Lanarkshire, Scotland

 

Name: John de Somerville, 1st. Baron of Somerville, aka Dragon Slayer


Birth:  1150 in Carnwath, Lanarkshire, Scotland

Married: before 1175 in Scotland to Lady Katherine Halliday, Heiress of Moffat

Children: (1) Sir William de Somerville of Linton

Died: 1194 in Linton Tower, Linton, Roxburghshire, Scotland

Burial: 1194 in Linton Church Cemetery, Linton, Roxburghshire, Scotland

 

Linton Parish Church, Linton, Roxburghshire, Scotland

John de Somerville, 1st Baron Somerville

Gender:	Male
Birth:	1150 Carnwath, Lanarkshire, Scotland
Death:	1194 (44) Linton Tower, Roxburghshire, Scotland
Immediate Family:	Son of Roger de Somerville, I and Edilene Le Boteler of Ingleby, Derbyshire, England Husband of ? De Sommerville and Katherine Halliday, Heiress of Moffat Father of Roger Somerville; Sir William Somerville, Baron of Cornwath; Roger De Somerville and Walter de Somerville Brother of Roger de Somerville, II
Added by:	Pablo Benítez Barreto on July 3, 2008
Managed by:	Pablo Benítez Barreto and 6 others

My Maternal 23rd. Great Scottish Grandfather, Sir William de Somerville, of Linton

 

East Linton, Roxburghshire, Scotland

Name: Sir William de Somerville, of Linton

Birth: 1175 in Stockton, Stratford-on-Avon District, Warwickshire, England
 
Death: 1215 (aged 35–36) in Linton, Scottish Borders, Scotland

Marriage: about 1195 in Lanarkshire, Scotland to Lady Margaret Somerville, of Newbigging

Children: (1) Baron William John de Somerville (1198-1230) 

Burial: 1215 Linton Church Cemetery, Linton, Scottish Borders, Scotland
Findagrave Memorial ID #144414901

 

Linton Parish Church This church on a small knoll, dates from the 12th century and has been altered several times over the years. Photo courtesy of Walter Baxter

Linton, Scottish Borders

Linton is a small village in the Scottish Borders area of Scotland. It is situated a mile north of the village of Morebattle. People have lived in the area since prehistoric times: on the summit of Linton Hill there is an Iron Age fort.  Linton was a substantial village in the Middle Ages. 

The Somerville family first appear in the records as being from Linton in 1136. There was a tower built by the family close to the church, but it was destroyed by the forces of Henry VIII, during the Rough Wooing, and nothing now remains of it.
 
Linton Church stands on top of a sandy mound, and used to be surrounded by water and marshland. The history of the church dates back to the 12th century, but the current building dates from 1911 and like its predecessors it has no solid foundations. The porch door has been inset with the "Somervail Stone" showing a knight fighting two beasts which is a link to the story of the Worm of Linton. 

A local legend concerning the founding of the church states that a young man killed a priest and was condemned to death. His two sisters pleaded for his life, which was granted on condition that they should sift as much sand as would form a mound on which to build a church. The sisters succeeded in the task, the church was built, and the man was freed.
Linton Loch was a substantial loch between Linton and Morebattle, but it was drained as part of the 19th century agricultural improvements in the area.  source: Wikipedia  https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Linton,_Scottish_Borders

 

Linton, Kirk, Scotland by Irvine Smith