William Brechin

Born [date unknown] in Brechin, Forfarshire, Scotland [uncertain]

Ancestors

Descendants

Died about 10 Dec 1292 in Brechin, Forfarshire, Scotland

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Biography

Birth

William was the son and heir of Henry of Brechin (illegitimate son of David of Scotland) and Juliane, likely daughter and heiress of Ralf de Cornhill.^[1] William's parents married circa July 1205. Between the years 1218-1245, William first appeared as a witness in a charter by his father to Lindores Abbey.^[2][1] If William was born about 1206, he would have fathered his son, David de Brechin, around age 65. This seems unlikely and as no other source information had been located that allows for a more accurate estimation of his date of birth, the date field has been left intentionally blank. It does not appear that the marriage of Henry and Juliane produced any additional children.^[3][2]

Marriage

Sir William of Brechin married Elena (or Elizabeth/Isabel), fourth daughter and co-heiress of Alexander Comyn, sixth Earl of Buchan and Justiciar of Scotland^[3] and Elizabeth de Quincy.^[4] Their marriage produced one child, a son, David.^[1][2]

Notable Events

On an unknown date, but before 30 August 1245, William succeeded his father, as on this date he granted to the monks of Rathmurial various lands surrounding their church. It was some time after this date that William was also knighted.^[1] In 1248, William's primary residence appeared to have been Lindores castle, where divine services were requested, with a commitment to provide "necessities" for the chaplain and maintain the church.^[1][2] Following the death of Alexander II William became active in the public affairs of Scotland, where on 19 August 1251, he witnessed a charter by Alexander III. He was also present on 20 September at Parliament, when he was appointed to the short-lived Privy Council that managed the King's interests regarding English affairs.^[1][3] In 1255, Alexander III consulted with William and other magnates, where they selected the Earls of Monteith, Buchan, and Marr to negotiate with the English.^[3] William, a religious man, founded the chapel of Saint Mary the Virgin of Brechin and hospital in 1261 for the salvation of the souls of Alexander, King of Scotland; John, Earl of Chester; his uncle Huntingdon; and his father and mother, as well as for himself and unnamed others.^[3] By 1267 or shortly thereafter, he had endowed the chapel with its surrounding lands, including the mill of Brechin, and its multure tolls. The mill and its watercourse were to be maintained and repaired in perpetuity by residents of the shire .^[5]

On 25 July 1281, the marriage contract of Princess Margaret of Scotland and Eric, King of Norway, was finalized. William was present during this event and was among the magnates who swore allegiance to Margaret's infant daughter as heir to the Scottish crown. William's last recorded action occurred on 14 October 1286, when he was present for an inquest regarding Christian Maule's ownership of pasture land held by Panmure.^[1]

Death

William died before 10 December 1292.^[2][1] The circumstances of his death and location of burial are unknown.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7} Balfour Paul, James. (1911). The Scots Peerage: Founded on Wood's ed. of Sir Robert Douglas's Peerage of Scotland; Containing an Historical and Genealogical Account of the Nobility of that Kingdom (Vol. II, pp. 216, 217). Edinburgh: D. Douglas. Retrieved from Internet Archive (Available online); accessed 8 March 2022.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4} Richardson, Douglas. (2013). Royal Ancestry: A Study in Colonial and Medieval Families (Vol. 1, p. 238). In Kimball G. Everingham (Ed.). Salt Lake City: Douglas Richardson. Retrieved from a personal copy of Lohbeck-3; accessed 8 March 2022.
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4} Nisbit, Alexander. (1816). A system of heraldry, speculative and practical, with the true art of blazon, according to the most approved heralds in Europe: illustrated with suitable examples of armoria figures, and achievements of the most considerable surnames and families in Scotland, together with historical and genealogical memorials relative thereto (Vol. II, pp. 76, 77). Edinburgh: W. Blackwood. Retrieved from Internet Archive (Available online); accessed 8 March 2022.
4. ↑ Balfour Paul, James. (1911). The Scots Peerage: Founded on Wood's ed. of Sir Robert Douglas's Peerage of Scotland; Containing an Historical and Genealogical Account of the Nobility of that Kingdom (Vol. II, p. 254). Edinburgh: D. Douglas. Retrieved from Internet Archive (Available online); accessed 8 March 2022.
5. ↑ People of Medieval Scotland 1093-1371. (25 March 1267 X 4 July 1297). Charter. Trad. ID: Brechin Registrum, i, no. 3, Calendar No. 3/100/7. Retrieved from PoMS (Available online); accessed 8 March 2022.