My Maternal 16th. Great Grandfather, Baron Thomas Somerville, 1st. Lord of Somerville

Name: Baron Thomas Somerville, 1st. Lord of Somerville

Born: January 1370 in Carnwath, Lanarkshire, Scotland

Married: July 1391 in  Lanarkshire, Scotland to Janet Stewart, of Darnley

Children: (5)
Margaret, William, Thomas, Giles, and Mary Somerville

Died: December 1444 in Carnwath, Lanarkshire, Scotland

Burial: December 1444 in Carnwath Churchyard, Carnwath, Lanarkshire, Scotland

Thomas Somerville, 1st Lord Somerville, (d. 1434), was a Lord of the Parliament of Scotland.
Thomas succeeded to the estates and became the first Lord Somerville. 

About 1427 both coal and limestone had been found in the lands of Gilmerton, which made him a very rich man. 
He married Janet Stewart, daughter of Alexander Stewart, Lord Darnley, and had two sons, William and Thomas, and three daughters, Mary, Giles, and Margaret.

He died in December 1444 and was succeeded by son Sir William
In 1423 Thomas Somerville, as Lord of Carnwath came to London as an ambassador to treat for the release of James I of Scotland, who had been captive in England for many years. Somerville was also recorded as a Warden of the Scottish Borders in 1424.
Thomas Somerville probably founded the Collegiate Church at Carnwath with his family burial aisle around 1425-1430, and repaired the church at Linton, Roxburghshire.

Sir THOMAS de SOMERVILLE, who succeeded also to his uncle Thomas's estates of Gilmerton, Drum, and Goodtrees, and was the first lord Somerville.

He was a man of great honour and virtue, and a liberal benefactor to the religious.

He made a donation to the monastery of Lesmahagoe, to which William Somerville his brother was a witness, anno 1421; and it was afterwards confirmed by king James I. anno 1427.

He made another mortification out of his lands of Manuel, for a chaplain to the same monastery, with consent of William Somerville his son and heir apparent, pro salute ani∣mae suae, &c. dated third June 1424, and confirmed by king James,* June 5th that same year.

He was one of the commissioners sent to England to negotiate king James I.'s liberty, anno 1423, and is then designed Thomas Somerville of Carnwath; but upon the king's return home the year thereafter, he was cal∣led to parliament by his majesty, as a lord baron, along with five others that had been hostages for his ransom, most of whom are either arrived at higher dignities, or are extinct.

He was one of the sureties for a seven years truce with the English, was appointed one of the wardens of the marches towards England,* and is then designed Thomas domi∣nus Somerville,*anno 1424. That same year he sat as a peer on the trial of Murdoch duke of Albany, &c.

As therefore there is sufficient proof that lord Somerville was a lord of parliament in the year 1424, he appears to be the first lord baron of Scotland; and by a resolution of the house of lords of Great Britain, in the year 1722, when the honours were confirmed to this lord, there is a saving clause, that, upon application to that house at any time,* and upon proper proof, he may have his rank ascertained.

He also sat as a peer in the parliament held at Edinburgh, anno 1429, and was by his majesty appointed justice-general of Scotland be south the river Forth, which appears by an authentic decreet pronounced by him, wherein he is designed justiciarius domini regis, ex parte austrail aquae de Forth. He passed sentence against the delinquents at Stirling, the 4th day of November, in the year of God 1430. The decreet concludes thus:*In cujus rei testimonium, sigillum officii nosiri justiciarii est appensum, anno die mensis, et l•co supra∣script.

Immediately thereafter, Thomas demius Somerville was appointed one of the warden
of the marches towards England, in December 1430.

He married Janet, daughter of Alexander Stewart, lord Darnly, ancestor of king James VI. with whom he got the lands and barony of Cambusnethan, which is confirmed by a charter from king Robert III. Thomae de Somerville, filio et haeredi apparenti Willielmi Somerville, militis, et Janetae Senescal sponsae suae, et eorum diutius viventi, omnes terras ba∣roniae de Cambusnethan, &c. jacen. in vicecom. de Lanark,*quae fuerunt dilecti consanguinei no∣stri Alexandri Senescalli de Darnly, militis, &c. dated in July 1392.
He died anno 1444, and was succeeded by his eldest son.
source: Peerage of Scotland

My Maternal 15th. Great Grandmother, Lady Elizabeth Somerville, Baroness Campbell

Name: Lady Elizabeth Somerville, Baroness Campbell

Born: 23 April 1415 in Cowthally Castle,  Carnwath, Lanarkshire, Scotland 

Married: 17 January 1432 in Cowthally Castle, Carnwath, Lanarkshire, Scotland to Lord Archibald Gillespic Campbell
 

Cowthally Castle, also known as Couthalley, is a ruined L-plan castle near Carnwath, Lanarkshire, Scotland. The remains are protected as a scheduled monument.
The castle appears to have been constructed in the 12th century, and was re-built in 1375. The castle passed to Sir John Somerville, 4th Baron of Linton through marriage in 1317 to Lady Elizabeth Douglas. The castle was altered and extended in 1415 and again in 1524. The castle was besieged in 1557 and was partially destroyed and was rebuilt in 1586.
The buildings at the Castle surviving in the 17th century were carefully described by the 11th Lord Somerville in his family history; the Memorie of the Somervilles.

 

Children: (7)

 Elizabeth, Duncan, Anne, Catherine (MacLean), Colin, Margaret, and Helen Campbell


Died: 4 March 1460 in Lochawe, Argyll, Scotland 

Buried: March 1460 in Lochawe, Argyll, Scotland 

 

Saint Mary's Church, Carnwath, Lanarkshire, Scotland

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 28th. Great Grandfather, Sir Gaulter "Walter" de Semerville

 

 Mont-Saint-Michel-at-twilight-Normandy-France

Sir Gaulter "Walter" de Sémerville

Gender:	Male
Birth:	circa 1000 Sémerville, Haute-Normandie, France
Death:	circa 1049 (41-57) in Caen, Sémerville, Haute-Normandie, France
Immediate Family:	Husband of Lady Sémerville Father of Sir Gualter de Somerville
Added by:	Levaughn Virgoe (Juell) on September 26, 2012
Managed by:	Levaughn Virgoe (Juell)

    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 - ?)

Children: Gaulter de SÉMERVILLE (1030-?)

---

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

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.

---

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 25th. Great Scottish Grandfather, Lord Roger de Somerville I

Fishing boats in the harbour, Honfleur, France

Roger de Somerville, I
Gender: Male
Birth: circa 1118 in Sémerville, Haute-Normandie, France

 The village of Graveron-Sémerville is a small village located north of France. The town of Graveron-Sémerville is located in the department of Eure of the french region Haute-Normandie. The town of Graveron-Sémerville is located in the township of Évreux-Nord part of the district of Évreux. The area code for Graveron-Sémerville is 27298 (also known as code INSEE), and the Graveron-Sémerville zip code is 27110.

Death: 1190 (68-76) in Linton, Roxburghshire, Scotland
 
Immediate Family:

Son of Sir Gualter de Somerville and Cecily Somerville (Lunsie / Limesi)
Husband of Edilene Le Boteler of Ingleby, Derbyshire, England and Maud Matilda Boteler
Father of Roger de Somerville, II and John de Somerville, 1st Baron Somerville
Brother of William de Somerville, Lord of Carnwath and Walter Somervillle

Added by: Pablo Benítez Barreto on July 3, 2008
Managed by: Pablo Benítez Barreto and 7 others
Source: geni.com

Lord Somerville is a title in the Peerage of Scotland which is subject to a number of ambiguities. The date of creation is not known with certainty but it was probably created about 1435 for Thomas Somerville, Justiciar of Scotland. The title was omitted in 1606 when an ordered list of the Scottish peerage was produced following the union of the Scottish and English crowns, and the title was not used during the 17th century. In 1723, however, the House of Lords ratified and acknowledged the title for James Somerville the 13th Lord. The consecutive numbers ascribed to the numerous Lords differ according to which authority is consulted. The list below uses the numbers favoured by Burkes Peerage.The Somervilles claim descent from William de Somerville, given Carnwath by David I of Scotland in the 12th century.
     A family history was written by James Somerville, 11th Lord Somerville in 1679. He related that William the Lion made John Somerville, his falconer, baron of Linton in Roxburghshire for killing a monstrous worm in 1174. The Worm of Linton was three Scots yards long and coloured like an adder. After stalking the beast for several days, Sir John killed it with a long iron-clad lance with a Catherine wheel fitted near its point. From this exploit the Somervilles used a wyvern in their heraldry. The poet Blind Harry mentions the knighting of Walter Somerville of Newbigging and his son David at the battle of Biggar by Alexander III of Scotland.

 

 Drum House, Gilmerton, Scotland

     The later family seat at Drum House, Gilmerton, near Edinburgh was acquired as a result of the marriage of Sir Walter Somerville of Linton and Carnwath to the daughter and heiress of Sir John Herring. Carnwath was sold in the 16th century and Hugh Somerville, the 7th Lord, built a substantial tower house at Drum in 1585 which was replaced between 1726 and 1734 with a Palladian mansion designed by architect William Adam. The Drum estate was sold in 1862.
     The family's earliest known ancestor is Sir Gualter de Somerville (anglicized as Walter de Somerville), a Norman knight and companion of William the Conqueror who, for his service during the Norman conquest of England, was awarded the lordship of Whichnour, in Stafford, and the land that is now known as Aston Somerville, in Evesham. One of Gualter's sons, William de Somerville, was close to King David I of Scotland and, for their friendship, David created for him the barony of Carnwath in the county of Lanark. He also acquired the barony of Linton in Roxburghshire. William's descendants, like himself, were close to royalty, and they went onto marry into prominent Scottish families. 
  
Thomas Somerville, 1st Lord Somerville (c. 1370–1444) 
William Somerville, 2nd Lord Somerville (c. 1400–1456) 
John Somerville, 3rd Lord Somerville (d. 1491) 
John Somerville, 4th Lord Somerville (c. 1484–1523) 
Hugh Somerville, 5th Lord Somerville (c. 1484–1549) 
James Somerville, 6th Lord Somerville (c. 1518–1569) 
Hugh Somerville, 7th Lord Somerville (1547–1597) 
Gilbert Somerville, 8th Lord Somerville (1568–1618) 
Hugh Somerville, 9th Lord Somerville (c. 1573–1640) 
James Somerville, 10th Lord Somerville (1595–1677) 
James Somerville, 11th Lord Somerville (1632–1693) 
James Somerville, 12th Lord Somerville (1674–1709) 
James Somerville, 13th Lord Somerville (1698–1765) 
James Somerville, 14th Lord Somerville (1727–1796) 
John Southey Somerville, 15th Lord Somerville (1765–1819) 
Mark Somerville, 16th Lord Somerville (1784–1842) 
Kenelm Somerville, 17th Lord Somerville (1787–1864) 
Hugh Somerville, 18th Lord Somerville (1839–1868) 
Aubrey John Somerville, 19th Lord Somerville (1838–1870) 

References 

Scott, Walter, ed., The Memorie of the Somervilles by James, 11th Lord Somerville, vol. 1, Ballantyne, Edinburgh (1815) 

Scott, Walter, ed., The Memorie of the Somervilles by James, 11th Lord Somerville, vol. 2, Ballantyne, Edinburgh (1815) 

Cassel's Old and New Edinburgh (1880s) James Grant Vol VI p346 

Somerville pedigree 

Leigh Rayment's Peerage Pages 

Archbold, William Arthur Jobson (1898). "Somerville, Hugh". In Lee, Sidney. Dictionary of National Biography 53. : 

Smith, Elder & Co. pp. 250,251 

Cameron, Annie I, ed., Scottish Correspondence of Mary of , SHS (1927), Calendar of State Papers , vol. 1 (1898), no. 751, 786. 

Papers , vol. 2 (1900), nos. 747, 774, 781. 

HMC, 11th report & Appendix, part VI, Manuscripts of the Duke of Hamilton, (1887), no. 108, p. 53. 

Memorie of the , vol. 1 (1815), pp. 6–8, 37-46. 

Battle Abbey Rolls located archives Battle Abbey 

Memorie of the Somervilles, vol. 1 (1815), pp. 6-8, 37-46. 

"The peerage of Scotland: containing an historical and genealogical account of the nobility of that kingdom, ... collected from the public records, and ancient chartularies of this nation, ... Illustrated with copper-plates. By Robert Douglas, Esq;". quod.lib.umich.edu. Retrieved 2018-02-26.

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

My Maternal 22nd. Great Grandfather, Sir William de Somerville, Baron of Linton

 

Linton, Roxburghshire, Scotland

William John de Somerville, Baron of Linton Towers

Gender:	Male
Birth:	1198 Linton Tower, Roxburghshire, Scotland
Death:	1230 (28-36) Linton Tower, Roxburghshire, Scotland
Immediate Family:	Son of Sir William Somerville, Baron of Cornwath and Lady Margaret Somerville Husband of Elizabeth de Oliphant of Cessford Castle (1200-1240) Married: before 1223 in Scotland Father of Margaret de Somerville and William de Somerville, Baron of Somerville Brother of William Somerville and Margaret de Somerville of Linton
Added by:	Pablo Benítez Barreto on July 3, 2008
Managed by:	Pablo Benítez Barreto and 5 others

       Source: geni.com

Lord Somerville is a title in the Peerage of Scotland which is subject to a number of ambiguities. The date of creation is not known with certainty but it was probably created about 1435 for Thomas Somerville, Justiciar of Scotland. The title was omitted in 1606 when an ordered list of the Scottish peerage was produced following the union of the Scottish and English crowns, and the title was not used during the 17th century. 

In 1723, however, the House of Lords ratified and acknowledged the title for James Somerville the 13th Lord. The consecutive numbers ascribed to the numerous Lords differ according to which authority is consulted. The list below uses the numbers favoured by Burkes Peerage.

The Somervilles claim descent from William de Somerville, given Carnwath by David I of Scotland in the 12th century.

A family history was written by James Somerville, 11th Lord Somerville in 1679. He related that William the Lion made John Somerville, his falconer, baron of Linton in Roxburghshire for killing a monstrous worm in 1174. The Worm of Linton was three Scots yards long and coloured like an adder. After stalking the beast for several days, Sir John killed it with a long iron-clad lance with a Catherine wheel fitted near its point. From this exploit the Somervilles used a wyvern in their heraldry. The poet Blind Harry mentions the knighting of Walter Somerville of Newbigging and his son David at the battle of Biggar by Alexander III of Scotland.

 

Drum House, Gilmerton, Scotland

The later family seat at Drum House, Gilmerton, near Edinburgh was acquired as a result of the marriage of Sir Walter Somerville of Linton and Carnwath to the daughter and heiress of Sir John Herring. Carnwath was sold in the 16th century and Hugh Somerville, the 7th Lord, built a substantial tower house at Drum in 1585 which was replaced between 1726 and 1734 with a Palladian mansion designed by architect William Adam. The Drum estate was sold in 1862.

The family's earliest known ancestor is Sir Gualter de Somerville (anglicized as Walter de Somerville), a Norman knight and companion of William the Conqueror who, for his service during the Norman conquest of England, was awarded the lordship of Whichnour, in Stafford, and the land that is now known as Aston Somerville, in Evesham.

One of Gualter's sons, William de Somerville, was close to King David I of Scotland and, for their friendship, David created for him the barony of Carnwath in the county of Lanark. He also acquired the barony of Linton in Roxburghshire. William's descendants, like himself, were close to royalty, and they went onto marry into prominent Scottish families.

• Thomas Somerville, 1st Lord Somerville (c. 1370–1444)
• William Somerville, 2nd Lord Somerville (c. 1400–1456)
• John Somerville, 3rd Lord Somerville (d. 1491)
• John Somerville, 4th Lord Somerville (c. 1484–1523)
• Hugh Somerville, 5th Lord Somerville (c. 1484–1549)
• James Somerville, 6th Lord Somerville (c. 1518–1569)
• Hugh Somerville, 7th Lord Somerville (1547–1597)
• Gilbert Somerville, 8th Lord Somerville (1568–1618)
• Hugh Somerville, 9th Lord Somerville (c. 1573–1640)
• James Somerville, 10th Lord Somerville (1595–1677)
• James Somerville, 11th Lord Somerville (1632–1693)
• James Somerville, 12th Lord Somerville (1674–1709)
• James Somerville, 13th Lord Somerville (1698–1765)
• James Somerville, 14th Lord Somerville (1727–1796)
• John Southey Somerville, 15th Lord Somerville (1765–1819)
• Mark Somerville, 16th Lord Somerville (1784–1842)
• Kenelm Somerville, 17th Lord Somerville (1787–1864)
• Hugh Somerville, 18th Lord Somerville (1839–1868)
• Aubrey John Somerville, 19th Lord Somerville (1838–1870)

References

• Scott, Walter, ed., The Memorie of the Somervilles by James, 11th Lord Somerville, vol. 1, Ballantyne, Edinburgh (1815)

 

Roxburghshire, Scotland