William de Irvine is said, by Wimberley, to have been born c. 1260.[1] His father was William de Irvine of Wodehouse, Laird of Bonshaw Castle. He was a supporter of King Robert Bruce. He is likely the same as Bruce's clerk when Bruce escaped from Edward I in London. [2] Irvine was Bruce's constant companion and later his armour bearer. He fought at the Battle of Bannockburn.
He was rewarded for his service with a grant, in Feb 1323 by Charter under the Great Seal, of a large portion of the Royal forest of Drum, in Aberdeenshire; the Park, which formed part of the chase, being reserved, and another portion having been recently granted to Alexander de Burnard. The next year, 1324, the lands were raised into a free barony.[3] King Robert also conferred upon him the device or arms which he had borne as Earl of Carrick, viz., three holly leaves; the arms of Irvine of Drum today.
His lineage has not been provided but a family historian, Dr. Christopher Irvine in his MS. says that Robert Bruce took from Bonshaw "one of the brothers to wait upon him, he was his Secretary and Armour-bearer, ....., whether he was the eldest Brother or not is not known, his name was Sir Wiliiam Irvine. To him King Robert gave the land of the forest of Drum. Nisbet, in his work, suggests he was the eldest son of Bonshaw. [4]
Forbes Leslie, in his work, makes the valid point that "It is not improbable that, on William de Irvin receiving the forest and barony of Drum, he had to resign the hereditary property of Bonshaw in Annandale, for which he could no longer perform the arduous services of a leader of a Border clan. By the grant of Drum, William de Irvin became a vassal of the Crown. But the proprietor of the hereditary property (Bonshaw) continued a vassal of the Lord of Annandale. King Robert Bruce, along with the Isle of Man, the earldom of Murray, and other valuable gifts, granted a charter to his nephew, Thomas Ranulph, of the "haill lands of Annandale" and "the gift of the forfaultry of all his vassals."[5]
In 1327, Bernard, Abbot of Aberbrothoc, granted a charter of confirmation to William de Irwyn and Marrote, his spouse, of the toft and premises and hostilage in Dundee which had been gifted to them by Stephen Fairbairn of Berwick-upon-Tweed. [6]
The last payment to William de Irwyn as clerk of the rolls in the chamberlains accounts is his salary for 1331.
The last time he appears on record was the next year. Forbes Leslie notes that: "On the 10th March, in the third year of the reign of King David II. (1332), William de Irwyn received a charter of the lands of Hevytriggys (Whiteriggs) and Bedemyres, on the resignation of Gilbert, son of Thomas de Johnstoun, to whom these lands were granted on the forfeiture of Walter de Knockys. This is the latest notice I have found of William de Irwyn. The name of his wife does not appear, although the above deed of 1327 shows her Christian name to have been " Marrote," and tradition as well as early genealogies give good grounds for calling her the daughter, or granddaughter, of Sir Robert de Keith, the Marischal, who was killed at the battle of Dupplin in 1332"; thus giving rise to the infamous feud between the two families.[7] This relationship has been adopted on wikitree.
As mentioned, his wife's name was Marrote, and she was likely a daughter or granddaughter, of Sir Robert de Keith, the Marischal, who was killed at the battle of Dupplin in 1332.
They appear to have had three sons:
Caution: Please take care with the children, Wimberley, in his work, and others using him as source, suggest there was one son William and call him Sir Thomas. He confuses the charters regarding both children. Forbes Leslie, is regarded as more accurate when providing three sons to William, 1st of Drum.
Footnotes:
Publications:
Links
Have you taken a DNA test? If so, login to add it. If not, see our friends at Ancestry DNA.
William is 28 degrees from Herbert Adair, 22 degrees from Richard Adams, 24 degrees from Mel Blanc, 27 degrees from Dick Bruna, 26 degrees from Bunny DeBarge, 34 degrees from Peter Dinklage, 24 degrees from Sam Edwards, 23 degrees from Ginnifer Goodwin, 25 degrees from Marty Krofft, 22 degrees from Junius Matthews, 22 degrees from Rachel Mellon and 26 degrees from Harold Warstler on our single family tree. Login to find your connection.
I > Irwyn | I > Irwyne of Drum > William (Irwyn) Irwyne of Drum
Categories: Battle of Bannockburn | Estimated Birth Date | Clan Irvine