De Lancaster, Roger

  General Notes:

Roger de Lancaster was born say 1200. He married Philippa de Bolebec, daughter of Hugh de Bolebec and Margaret de Montfichet, before 23 October 1262.3 Roger died before 22 February 1290/91.

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

Early genealogists have claimed that the Lawrences of Ashton Hall were descendant from a Robert Lawrence or de Lancaster knighted in 1191 by Richard Coeur de Lion for distinguishing himself in the siege of Acre during the Crusades in the Holy Land.4 This appears to be disproved by later researchers as stated by Schuyler Lawrence in his Lawrence Family Record Series.

According to Schuyler Lawrence the Lawrences did not occupy Ashton Hall to about 100 years later in 1292. The first mention of the family is in a suit in 1292 where Lawrence de Lancaster of Ashton sets forth his claim to 30 acres of land in Skerton. This suit mentions the first three generations of the family beginning with this Roger de Lancaster and it appears that they were of a family long settled in the nearby town of Lancaster.

From what records I have been able to research, including the Victoria History of Lancaster which was one of the sources used by Schuyler Lawrence, I feel the evidence strongly suggests that theLawrences of Ashton Hall descend from Roger de Lancaster. The question remains whether this Roger de Lancaster was is some way related to the Sir Robert Lawrence of the Crusades. There appears to be evidence that this Sir Robert existed. What is confusing it that he is referred to as Robert Lawrence and surnames generally did not come into use until the late 1200s or early 1300s and John Lawrence,the first Squire of Ashton Hall is indicated as being the first to use the Lawrence surname having taken it from the given name of his father Lawrence de Lancaster.

The de Lancasters were barons of Kendal. Roger was the illegitmate son of Gilbert FitzReinfrid de Lancaster. As such he was not in line to inherit the Barony but he did, however, wear the same arms as his father. This line of the de Lancaster family held, at various times, the manors of Deepdale, Glencoyne, Withirslak and Knoksalcok.3

From The Old Manorial Halls of Westmorland & Cumberland by Michael Waistell Taylor: "William the third died towards the end of Henry III's reign without issue, leaving two sisters Helwise and Alice, between whom were divided the inheritance and dignities...There was however a half or illegitmate brother named Roger, to whom William made sundry gifts. To this Roger thus came the succession ofHolgill or Howgill, and the manor adjoining, also various lands in Barton and Patterdale; and in the 3rd of Edward I, he obtained confirmation of the grant made to him of the forest of Rydal, as wellas Amelside and Loughriggge."3

In 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" hiswife, 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.5

1210-20, Ralph de Eincurt grants to Gilbert de Hasunderlau 5 a. in Lefnes which the grantor had from Roger de Lancaster of the fee of Orm de Niandsherg, to hold for 12d. yearly. Witnesses: Nicholas parson of Kirkebie, Benedict writer of the charter, Robert de Eincurt, Matthew de Sithrith[ergh], Philip de Likeberh, Thomas de Linaker; Orig. at Sizergh Dodsworth's MS., 149, f. 135.5

1227-37, Ralph de Aencurt gives to Roger Abot and his heirs 5 a. land which he had from Roger de Lancaster in the vill of Levenes, namely of the fee of Orm de Niendershergh, to hold by rendering12d. yearly. Witnesses: Sir John de Kirkeby then official of Richmond, Sir Philip de Burgh, Sir Richard de Preston, Thomas de Levenes, Robert [de] Brigestre, John de Derham, MIcholas son of Robert deKirkeby; Dodsworth;s MS., 149, f. 135.5

The chapel of St. Martin's, Martindale, standing in Howe Grain is mentioned in a charter dated between 1220 and 1247, in which William de Lancaster granted to his half brother Roger, son of Gilbert Fitz Roger Fitz Reinfrid, the forest of Martindale by these bounds:--'then descending by the Grenerig as far as Staynraise by the chapel of Martindale.' In another charter, date 1266, settling a dispute between Roger de Lancaster and Henry de Tirril about rights of common a boundry line is defined as following 'a stream to the chapel of St. Martin.'5

1249, Roger de Lancastre appeared against (1) Alexander le Waleys, (2) Richard son of Adam del Gate, (3) Richard son of Adam le Fevere, (4) Robert Tailor (sutor), (5) Robert the Chaplain's son, (6) Gregory son of Adam, (7) Henry de Ketelestal, (8) William de Croppehuby, (9) Thomas son of Robert, (10) Hugh de Pikering and (11) Robert Le Fraunceys of a plea that by force and arms they came to the said Roger's water of Whytherslak, which is his free fishery, and fished there without his licence.5

1251, John de Heselslak was attorney for Henry de Bethum in a plea against Roger de Lancaster. Roger demanded against Henry de Bethum 100 a. land in Witherslack as his right. Henry prays for a view. In 1256 Roger was attached to answer Henry de Bethum of a plea the he with Hugh le Esquier, Simon de la Croye, Adam son of Osbert, William son of Osbert, Adam Ballard, Adam son of Samuel, Thomas Schefdor and Thoams son of Willilam, by force and arms came to Henry's wood in Hale Cat and cut down his trees and carried them away, and on Monday after Mid-lent, 37 Henry III, came by force and armswith bows and arrows, swords and hatchets and cut down about 200 trees and carried them away to his loss in £20. Roger denies and puts himself on the country; Henry offers one mark for an inquiry. Onthe morrow of Holy Trinity the jury at Kyrkeby say that Roger and the others did not come by force etc., nor fell trees, nor carry them away. Henry is in mercy.5

1251, Roger de Lancastre demands against Henry de Bethum 100 a. land in Witherslack as his right. Henry prays for a view. Ajourned to Hilary term; Assize R. 1046, m. 75.5

1256, Roger de Lancastre was attached to answer Henry de Dethum of a plea that he with Hugh Le Esquier, Simon de la Croye, Adam son of Osbert, William son of osbert, Adam Ballard, Adam son of Samuel, Thomas Schefdor and Thomas son of William, by force and arms came to Henry's wood in Hale Cat and cut down his trees and carried them away, and on Monday after Mid-Lent, 37 Henry III, came by force and arms with bows and arrows, swords and hatchets and cut down about 200 trees and carried them away to his loss in £20. Roger denies and puts himself on the country; Henry offers one mark for aninquiry. On the morrow of Holy Trinity the jury at Kyrkeby say that Roger and the others did not come by force etc., nor fell trees, nor carry them away. Henry is in mercy; Assize R. 979, m. 8d.5

1256, Roger de Lancaster acknowledged that 30 acres of land in Wytherslak were the right of Henry de Midhop, saving to Roger common of Pastor. For this Henry released to Roger 100 acres in the same vill which he recovered against the said Henry by default in the last eyre at Nottingham, and nine acres there, namely in Halekat, about which teh said Henry arraigned an assize of novel siseisin against Roger at the last eyre in Westmorland.5

1256, Roger de Lancaster released to Peter de Brus and Walter de Lindeseye his right in the forestry of the forests of Peter and Walter in Kendale, Lonesdale, and Furneys, granted to him by William de Lancaster, uncle of Peter and Walter.5

In 1266-7 Roger obtained a charter of free warren, and in 1280 he further procured a charter for a Thursday market at Ulverston and a yearly fair on 7-9 September, but the abbot objected to the market, as it was to the injury of his own market at Dalton, and the market is stated to have remained in abeyance tull the overthrow of the abbey, when it was revived as more conveniently placed at Ulverston than at Dalton.2

In 1269 there was a dispute over the wardship of Roger son and heir of Henry de Croft of Dalton, which the king had given to Roger de Lancster.2

1275, Margaret de Brus, late the wife of Robert de Ros of Werk, granted to Roger de Lancaster her part of Rydale by bounds (described), he part of Amelsate and Loghrygg with common of pasture within the bounds of Gressemere, to hold as Peter de Brus, her brother, and William de Lancaster, her uncle, formerly held the same, to hold for the 4th part of one fee. This was followed by an order topermit Roger de Lancaster to hold in peace, lands in Rydale, Amelstate and Loucrigg, lately seized by the escheator, as Margaret de Ros granted the same to Roger by the King's licence.5

1275, Order to permit Roger de Lancastre to hold in peace, lands in Rydale, Amelstate and Loucrigg, lately siezed by the escheator, as Margaret de Ros granted the same to Roger by the King's licence; Cal. Close r., 1275, p. 183.5

Newland, which is joined with Egton in the title of manor and township, was at least in part in possession of Roger de Lancaster in 1276.2 Also in 1276 the forest of Blawith was held by Roger.2

In 1277, an agreement was made between Roger de Lancaster and William de Lyndesey respecting the said William's men and their beasts taken in Roger's forest of Rydal.5 Also in 1277 the Prior of Cartmel claimed a free fishery in the water of Broughton against Roger de Lancaster.2

In a settlement of dispute between Roger de Lancaster, the mense lord, and Christiana, widow of Gilbert de Lancaster, underlord of Sockbridge, made in the year 1279, Roger granted to Christiana common of pasture for herself and her heirs dwelling in Sokebred for stock of every kind the whole year through. He grandson, another Gilbert, gave to his son Christopher, "a house and land" in Sockbridge.5

William de Lyndesey died in 1282 seised of the manors of Barton and Witherslak which Roger de Lancaster held of him by the service of a sor sparrow-hawk (for Barton) and 1d. yearly (for Witherslak).5

In 1282 Roger de Lancaster obtained a grant in fee of the moiety of Ulverston from the Brus heirs and a life-grant from the Lindsays, as appears from an agreement between Roger and the Abbot of Furness by which Roger was recognized as holding immediately of the abbot, and did homage in Carmel Church.2

1283, Roger de Lancaster held the moiety of Banandisdale of William de Lindeseye for 2s. rent; Roger the marshall held le Holmes for 2d. rent.5

1291, Roger de Lancaster held at his death the dale of Rydale of the king in chief for a 4th part of a fee. The manor of Wythirslake, extended at £15 19s. 10d. yearly, the valley of Ridale, extended at £20, and other lands were assigned in dower to Philippa, wife of Roger de Lancaster, although the king took homage of John de Lancaster, Roger's son and heir, for the lands which his father held in chief and caused him to have seisin thereof, it was not his intention to omit assigning dower of the lands to Philippa.5

1291, Roger de Lancaster held at his death the manor of Werrslak of the heirs of William de Lyndesey for 2d. yearly rent. The manor of Wythirslak, extended to £15 19s. 10d yearly, and other lands are assigned in dower to Phillippa, late wife of Roger de Lancaster.5

Roger married.