Mont-Saint-Michel-at-twilight-Normandy-France
Sir Gaulter "Walter" de Sémerville
Source: geni.com
The Arche and the Aiguille of the cliffs of Étretat, 2012
- Sir Gaulter "Walter" de SÉMERVILLE (1000-1049) of Graveron, Évreux, Somme Valley, Sémerville in Nord & Lady Sémerville (about 1000 - ?)
The mention above of Somme Valley appears to be incorrect: See Wikipedia:
- Somme is a department of France, part of the Picardy region.
- Évreux is a commune in the Eure department, of which it is the capital, in Haute Normandie in northern France.
- Graveron-Sémerville is a commune in the Eure department.
Sir Gualter de Somerville was one of William the First's knights when he came over to England, and for his services was granted large estates in Staf- fordshire, including the Barony of Wichnour. Sir Roger de Somerville, the fifth from Sir Gualter, seems to have got into trouble with King John through joining the barons in their revolt, and temporarily had his estates forfeited in consequence. He had a son, John, whom he placed in the Court of Malcolm, King of Scotland, at the age of fourteen, in 1164. Here he gradually rose from page to the office of the King's falconer, and was knighted. At that time a prehistoric beast — known locally as a "worm " or " dragon "—was ravaging Roxburghshire, and was the terror of the country- side.
SOMERVILLE SURNAME
In 1066 the Lord of Somerville, Sir Gaultier / Walter de Somerville joined William the conqueror on his invasion of England, for his support Sir Gaultier de Somerville was given land in the North of England.
By the twelfth century, the Somervilles were granted land and title of lord in Scotland and were at one time among the noble families of Scotland. Alternatively, Somerville can also be a Scottish clan surname.
The Irish House of Somerville began when William Somerville came to Ireland in 1690. William was an Episcopalian minister forced to flee from his manse when it was attacked by Covenanters. William brought his sons William and Thomas with him to Ireland. While the younger William returned to Scotland, his brother Thomas stayed in Ireland. Thomas would be educated at Trinity College in Dublin eventually earning a BA in 1711. He entered the church of his father and was ordained a minister at Cloyne Cathedral in 1715. It was in 1732 that Thomas was made the rector of Myross and Castlehaven.
It was his son Thomas who by becoming a very successful merchant with
Newfoundland and the West Indies was able to build up the Irish house of
Somerville to the ranks of landed gentry a class out of which the
Somerville clan had dropped for five generations. source: Wikipedia
