Person Page

     Elizabeth of Lancaster was born in 1363.¹ She married first John Hastings on 24 June 1380 in London, England. The marriage was dissolved after 24 September 1383.² She married second John de Holland, son of Thomas de Holland and Joan of Kent, on 24 June 1386 in Plymouth.² She married third John Cornwall before 12 December 1400 in Ampthill.² Elizabeth died on 24 November 1425.²

     Elizabeth de Lancaster married Robert Cracanthorp [Esq.].¹

     Gilbert de Lancaster was born say 1085. He married Goditha of Kendal, daughter of Eldred (Eltred) of Kendal and Beatrix de Taillebois.¹

     Gilbert was also known as Gilbert de Furnesio.²

     Many put Gilbert as a son of Ketel son of Elred of Kendal. George Washington in his article The parentage of William de Lancaster, lord of Kendal³ presents a persuasive case that Gilbert was a Norman knight and his wife Goditha was a sister of Ketel and that Ketel was of native origin and in no way connected with Ivo Taillebois as some claim. The article points out that William son of Gilbert de Lancaster and William, his eldest son, confirmed to the brethern of St. Peter (afterwards called St. Leonard) of York land in Newby, Westmorland, which they held "by gift of Ketel, my uncle" (avunculus); and William II de Lancaster subsequently grant to St. Peter's "the whole of the land in Newby which Ketel son of Elftred" gave them there. From this most would conclude then that Gilbert was a brother of Ketel son of Elred. However, even though Ketel was alive after 1120, his son Orm was old enough to witness a charter in 1094. If Gilbert was the eldest son of Ketel that would make him the elder brother or Orm and place him a generation too early. William called Ketel his uncle "avunculus", a term which strictly means "materal uncle". Thus it seems more plausible that Goditha was a sister of Ketel. It's clear that Eldred, Ketel, and Goditha were of native English stock by their names. Gilbert and the names given to all of his recorded children are French Christian names which makes it clear that Gilbert most likely was a Norman knight.

     Gilbert is ofter referred to by historians as "de Tallebois", "de Lancaster", "Fitz Ketel", or "de Furness" (de Furnesio).⁴

     Gilbert II de Lancaster was born say 1110.¹

     Farrer describes Gilbert as the father of Warin de Lancaster. Others place Warin as the son of William I de Lancaster. There is also a theory that this is Gilbert de Stainton. His male heir Bernard Fitz Gilbert appears to have died heirless, and Stainton went to Gilbert's daughter Christian de Stainton, who married Michael de Furness, also known as Michael le Fleming. Their son Anselm de Furness inherited Stainton.²

     Gilbert de Lancaster married Sapience ?.³ Gilbert died circa 1220.³

     Gilbert and his brother Jordan are normally thought to have been illegitimate. He was enfeoffed of Sockbridge and Hartsop late in his father's life. Gilbert is known to have had a son who was suggested as a hostage when Gilbert FitzReinfrid was asked to provide hostages during the indicidents surrounding the "Magna Carta" in 1216, in order to have his son William de Lancaster III released from custody by King John. Gilbert FitzReinfrid also seems to have given Gilbert de Lancaster possession of Hawkshead according to a charter found by Ragg.³

     Hawise de Lancaster was born circa 1169.² She married Gilbert FitzReinfrid, son of Roger FitzReinfrid and Alice de Breton, on 20 July 1189 in Rouen.^3,2

     Hawise appears to be the only legitimate child of William II. After his death, Hawise became a ward of William le Mareschal, known as the "perfect knight". She eventually marriage Gilbet FitzReinfrid, with the permission of Henry II.

     1184-86, Henry II gave to William Marshal the custody of the heir of William de Lancaster; see Kirkby in Kendale, page 2.^5,4

     Hawise de Lancaster was born circa 1190.^1,2 She married Peter II le Brus, son of Peter I le Brus and Joan le Grammaire.³ Hawise died after September 1226.²

     After the death of William III de Lancaster without surviving children, the Barony was divided between Hawise and Avice, daughters of Gilbert and Helwise FitzReinfrid. Presumably Roger and John were illegitimate and unable to inherit.¹

     Hawise (Helwise) married Peter de Brus, Lord of Skelton and Danby, in Yorkshire, and brought the Barony and Kendall Castle into his family. Her portion was subsequently divided into two seigniories, designated the Marquis Fee and Lumley Fee.¹

     Isabel de Lancaster married Ivo de Veteripont.¹

     Isabella de Lancaster married Thomas Flemyng [Esq.].¹

     John died without issue before 1292.¹

     In 1292, Lawrence de Lancaster claimed claimed the tenement of 30 acres in Skerton as heir of his brother John. It had evidently been held in trustee by Nicholas Gentyl.

     John de Lancaster was born circa 1265.² He married Annora ?.¹ John died without issue before 18 April 1334.¹

     John was also known as [Sir] John de Lancaster.

     From "Magna Britannica ed Hibernia" by Thomas Cox, 1731, "This John was a warlike man, and was with his King several times in his Wars with Scotland, in which he behaved himself with that Fidelity and Courage, that the King employed him in guarding the Marches against that Nation. He sat in Parliament among the Barons from 25 Edward i to 3 Edward II. He left no issue, and so his Estate passed to his Sister's son Richard de Platz, then a minor of twelve years old, and from that family to the Howards, ancestors of the Dukes of Norfolk, who are spread into so many noble Families."³

     1196, Witherslack was probably a member of the demense lands of the barony of Kendale for by a fine that year in the king's court between Gilbert son of Roger Fitz-Reinfrid and "Aylewise" his wife, plaintiffs, and Henry de Redeman, tenants, respecting "Witeberge," this is Whitbarrow with the appurtenances, the said Henry quit-claimed to them the right which he had held in Witeberge, for which they gave him Selesat by the right bounds by which Cospatric de Selesat held it with other privileges and granted to Henry and his men of Levenes common of pasture of the moss between Witeberge and Levenes, to be held by Henry and his heirs by the free service of 5s. yearly. Gilbert Fitz-Reinfrid probably enfeoffed his natural son, Roger de Lancaster, of Witherslack shortly before 1220. It descended to John, son of Roger de Lancaster and was held by Annora, relict of John, at the time of her death in 1338. It had been granted in 1328 to John de Cancefield, as trustee, for settlement upon Roger de Lancaster, brother of John, for life, with remainder to Michael son of Robert de Haverington.⁴

     1291, after the death of his father, render and confirmation by John de Lancaster for the souls of his father, Philippa his own mother, and for the health of the soul of Anora his wife and Roger his brother, to the prior and convent of Kertmel of the free fishery in the water callled 'Heltonterne,' which the prior demanded against him in the king's court as the right of the church of Kertmel, so that the prior, etc. may fish there at all times of the year and draw their boat ashore and fasten it both to his land on the Wytherslac side and to their own land of Kertmel and dry their nets without impediment of the grantor or his heirs; saving to the grantor and his heirs their free fishing throughout the said water so that they can draw their boat and nets ashore and fasten them either on the side of Kertmel or of Wytherslac. For this the names of the grantor, his wife and those named above are to be inserted in the 'martilogium' (martyrologium) of the priory and to be received into all the benefits of the house.⁴

     Also after the death of his father in 1291, John de Lancaster was involved in a various suits. Ingram de Gynes and Christiana his wife claimed against him the moiety of thirty-seven messuages, a mill, saltpit, bakehouse, two forges and various land, and the king summoned him to prove his right of free warren in Ulverston. He made John de Hudleston his forester for the barony of Ulverston, but at a later time the validity of the grant was denied and puture was accordingly refused. The Prior of Conishead demanded against John de Lancaster, Ingramd de Gynes and Christiana his wife common of pasture in Ulverston of which he said Roger de Lancaster had disseised his predecessor and his claim was allowed.⁵

     In 1292 John de Eskeslak claimed common of pasture in Kirkby Ireleth against John de Lancaster and Ingram de Gynes and Christiana his wife, but was non-suited.⁵

     1293, William prior of Kertmel demands against John son of Roger de Lancaster and Philippa who was the wife of Roger de Lancaster his several fishery in the water of Heltontern in Broghton in Kertmel, as right of his church of Kertmel, in which the said John and Philippa had no entry save by Roger de Lancaster, who unjustly sisseised John, formerly the prior, who was seised of the said fishery as of fee in the right of his church in the time of Henry III.⁴

     In 1296 Ingram de Gynes and Christiana his wife desired a partition of the wood in Ulverston held by them and John de Lancaster.⁵

     John de Lancaster was summoned to Parliament as a Baron in 1299. Johannes de Lancastria was one of two members for Lancaster, 33rd of Edward I, summoned to meet at Westminster 16 February 1304/05, which was prorogued to 28 February 1304/05. Johannes de Lancastr' was one of the two members for Lancaster, 35th of Edward I, summoned to meet at Carlisle 20 January 1306/07.³

     In 1300 John de Lancaster was at the seige of Caerlaverock and was made a knight.⁵

     In 1306, John de Lancaster granted to Stratfort Langthorne Abbey, in free alms, 2 acres of land in East Ham, with the advowson. This seems to have been the first step in a process, continuing to 1338, by which the abbey acquired the whole manor from Lancaster and his tenants.³

     In 1312, John, son of Roger de Lancaster of Sockbridge "was summoned to answer Walter de Strikeland regarding common of pasture in the vill of Barton.³

     Under Howgill Castle: The chief msssuage of the manor of Milburn, on 24 September, 1314, a pardon was issued to John son of Roger de Lancaster of Holegille for the death of John de Helton.⁴

     1319, John granted the reversion of the manor of Eastham-Hall after the decease of himself and his wife Annora, to the abbot and convent of Stratford.⁴

     On 17 August 1319, at Newbiggin, "Licence for John de Lancastre to enfeoff William de Herle of a moiety of the manor of Styford, co. Northumberland, held in chief, and for the said William to re-grant the same to the said John de Lancastre for his life, and if the said John should die in the life-time of Roger de Lancastre, his brother, that the said moiety should remain over to the said Roger for his life, and upon the deaths of the said John and Roger that it should revert to the said William de Herle and his heirs."³

     1320, licence was issued for John de Lancaster to enfeoff John de Lancaster (his nephew, son of Robert de Lancaster) of Holgill of the Manor of Rydale, held in chief and for the latter to regrant the manor to the former and Annora his wife, for their lives, with remainder to Roger de Lancaster, brother of the first named John de Lancaster, for his life, with the final remainder to John de Lancaster of Holgill and his heirs.⁴

     In 1322 the Earl of Lancaster, Thomas Plantagenet, was beheaded by the King for treason. Sir John de Lancaster was made keeper of the Earl's forfeited lands in Lancashire. There are references in the Rydal manuscripts to a John de Lancaster "of Howgil" in 1324/5. Called "Lord of Holgill" in 1333.³

     1334, an order was issued to the escheator to deliver to Annora, late the wife of John de Lancaster the manor of Rydale etc., because the King has learnt by inquisition taken, etc., that John and Annora held jointly at John's death the said manor by grant of John son of Robert de Lancaster (reference to a messuage in Barton) by the king's licence, for their lives, with reversion of the manor to John son of Robert ahd his heirs, that that the said manor is held by the king in chief b service of the 4th part of a knight's fee etc.⁴

     1334, John de Lancaster, and Annora his wife, who survives, held the manor of Witherslake for lives of Christiana, late the wife of Ingelram de Gynes, for 1d. yearly, by the grant of John de Caucefeld, witht eh remainders to Roger de Lancaster for life and after his decease to Micheal son of Robert de Haverington and his heirs.⁴

     In or before 1334, John granted his part of Ulverston to John de Harrington.⁵

     Listed under St. Cuthbert, Milburn: John, son of Roger de Lancaster by his will, dated 13 January, 1352-4, desired that his body be buried "in capella Sci Cuthberti de Milnebourne" and left a legacy of a chasuble and twelve silver marks to pay a priest who should sing masses for his soul for two years.⁴

     John, son of Roger de Lancaster, by his will dated January 1353.4, left a bequest to the church of St. Edmund de Newbiggin and Robert, rector of Newbiggin, was one of the witnesses.⁴

     The title of Lord Lancaster became extinct with his death. John was succeeded in his Howgill estates by his nephew, John, son of Robert de Lancaster.³

     John de Lancaster was born before 1369.² He married first Margaret de Threlkeld.¹ John de Lancaster married second Katherine ?.¹ John died in 1427.¹

     John was also known as [Sir] John de Lancaster.

     The web site The de Lancaster Family has another William de Lancaster who died in 1407, son of the William de Lancaster who died in 1399 as the father of John. The Victoria History of the County of Lancashire has John as the son of the William who died in 1399. I am accepting the later. Perhaps the two Williams, one who died in 1399 and one who died in 1407 are really the same and one of the death dates in whatever sources were used was recorded incorrectly or John had a brother William.

     In 1397, "John de Lancastre of Rydale, last of seven commissioners appointed to arrest and commit a large number of Westmorland men (named) who threaten the lives and limbs of the abbot and canons of Hepp." In 1402, "John de Lancastre, chevaler, holds the fourth part of one fee in Ridale, as parcel of the moiety of the manor of Kirkeby kendale, which Margaret de Ros formerly held."¹

     A reference in 1435 to a dispute between his heirs indicates that at his death his wife was Katherine. "Pardon, for 20 marks, to Thomas Warcop of Lambersate and John Scarlet, chaplain, in that they lately acquired without king's licence to them and the heirs of Thomas from John Lancastre, "Chivaler," since deceased, and Katherine his wife, the manors of Ridale and Loughrygge, held in chief, and regranted them to the said John Lancastre and Katherine and heirs male of their bodies with the remainder to Robert Lancastre his brother for life, with remainder to John Lancastre son of William Lancastre of Yanewyth and the heirs male of his body, with remainder to Christopher Lancastre, brother of the said John son of William the heirs of his body, with remainder to William Lancastre of Hertsop and the heirs male of his body; and licence for the said Katherine to have the manors again entailed as aforesaid."¹

     John had four daughters, no male heir. "In the partition of the various estates, Howgill fell to Elizabeth, who brought the same by marriage to Robert, a younger brother of their neighbor John de Cackenthorpe of Newbiggen. The grandson of this Robert had daughters only, the eldest of whom Anne had Howgill for her share, and by her marriage to Sir Thomas Sandford of Askham, we are first introduced to the Sandfords as lords of Howgill."¹

     In 6 Henry VI the four daughters and coheirs of Sir John de Lancaster of Howgill, in consideration of the sum of 20l. paid to each of them, sold to Sir Henry Treklkeld, Knight, their moiety of the manor of Yanewith.¹

     John de Lancaster married Elizabeth de Ros.³ John died in 1351.⁴

     John was also known as [Sir] John de Lancaster.

     The earliest record of John is 24 December 1314, when he appears to have been pardon for the murder of John de Helton. He was assigned a justice of the peace in 1332. He also was called upon to muster men for war in 1324. He represented Westmorland in Parliament in 1327.³

     John became the heir who took control of what now became the most important de Lancaster positions of this branch of the family: Rydal and Howgill. He was the founder of the Lancasters of Howgill.²

     1318, Robert de Gylpyn, who was accused of the death of John de Coupeland, died before conviction, seised of 2 messuages, 19½ a. land and 3 a. meadow in Helsington, held of John de Lancastre and Elizabeth his wife, as of her dower of the inheritance of William de Ros; Richard de Gylpyn, his brother, is next heir and proys for restoration of the tenements; Cal. Inq., vi, 125. ⁵

     Recorded in 1338, "Annora late wife of John de Lancaster held for her life with her husband the manor of Ridale of the grant of John de Lancaster of Holgill, remainder to Roger de Lancaster for life, reversion to John de Lancaster of Holgill, who survives; the said Roger died 10 years ago; the manor is held of the king in chief for 1/4 fee; the reversion of the manor belongs to John de Lancaster of Holgill, who is 30 years of age."⁴

     On 31 August 1340, "Memorandum of Assize held at Carlisle before Robert Parvyng and other justices, that John de Lancaster, kt., Richard his son, William de Lancaster and Alice his wife, William de Denton, chaplain, William Brunnyng, chaplain, William Bisshep, of Kirkeby, chaplain, Adam de Appleby, chaplain, Robert de Merton, chaplain unjustly dispossessed Elena, wife of Alexander de Fetherstrahalgh of her freehold in Skirwith (case found against her)."⁴

     

     Jordan and his brother Gilbert are normally thought to have been illegitimate.³

     Lawrence de Lancaster was born say 1250. Lawrence died after 1317.¹

     The first mention of the family is in a suit in 1292 and 1302 where Lawrence de Lancaster sets forth his claim to 30 acres of land in Skerton. He was the brother and heir of John, son of Thomas, son of Roger de Lancaster.² Lawrence complained that John le Gentyl and Agnes his wife were making waste in lands of his held as Agnes' dower. In 1323 the Millfield contained 20 acres and was held by tenants William and Randle le Gentyl, John and Alice Lawrence, and others.¹

     In 1297 he held 30 acres in Skerton by a rent of 6s. 8d. which he had obtained from Nicholas Gentyl in 1292 who had held the land as trustee for Lawrence's brother John who had enfeoffed Nicholas.¹ Also in 1297 there were three free tenants of Lune Mill, Lawrence son of Thomas de Lancaster, the Abbot of Furness, and Alan de Parles.¹

     In 1301, Lawrence son of Thomas was one of the free tenants of the manors of Ashton and Scotforth. Some forty years later William son of Lawrence was listed as a free tenant.¹

     In 1317 Lawrence son of Thomas de Lancaster granted lands in Skerton, Ashton, Brantbreck, Grisehead, &c. to his son John Lawrence and Elizabeth his wife. From this time on Lawrence was used as the family name.¹

     Lawrence de Lancaster's three children, John, William, and Alice definitely were using the surname Lawrence. At various times in early records it was spelled Laurens, Laurenz, or Laurence.

     Margaret de Lancaster married Matthew Whitfeld.¹

     Margaret? de Lancaster married Richard de Plaiz.¹

     Nicholas de Lancaster was born say 1110.¹

     Nicholas was also known as Nicholas FitzGilbert de Radcliffe.

     This is based on some assumptions. Radcliffe genealogists say that their family descend from a knight based in Radcliffe (near Manchester) name Nicholas Fitz Gilbert de Taillebois. They also say that this Gilbert, his father, was also known as Gilbert de Furnesio. The evidence for this link and the links between this knight and and the later family of Radcliffe is unknown. Some genealogists indicate that this Nicholas was the son of Gilbert who was the son of Eldred of Workington, but who was not the father of William I de Lancaster.²

     He married a heiress of the Booths. From him descends the family of Radcliffe who rose to prominence in the 14th and 15th centuries. A descendant, Adam de Radclyffe son of William, the Sheriff of Lancaster, married a daughter of Alan de Culwen, a descendant of Ketel, Orm.¹

     

     On 1 August 1345, "Agreement made at Hollegill between: Richard de Lancaster and Roger de Skirwith: Roger's lands at Skirwith are held of Richard notwithstanding a deed of Robert, son of Walter lord of Davingtre, sometime lord of Skirwith; Roger is to grind all his corn at Richard's mill "at the 30th vessell"; Roger grants the watercourse of Litlebeck and his rights of common in a close called Newfield to Richard."¹

     Robert de Lancaster was born say 1110.