Re: SP Addition: the Ancestry of Margaret Danielston (conjectured)

Sunday, 6 November, 2005

Dear Alex,

Thanks for that interesting and informative post.

The name 'Devorgilla' amongst the issue of Sir William de
Montfichet is striking, and certainly provides linkage in the
documents you cited. While unfortunately the VCH text re:
Lilford, Notts. is not on-line, I did find this afternoon the
VCH text for Oakington, co. Cambs [1]. This does not mention the
Montfichet family, but all other details (incl. the widow
Dervorguilla as 'the Lady of Lilford') are confirmed by your
findings.

The best probability I see here is that Dervorguilla, wife
of (1) Sir David de Olifard and (2) Sir William de Montfichet,
is that Dervorguilla was a member of the Abernethy family, and
(if so) most likely a sister of Sir Hugh de Abernethy (d. bef
1293). This is based on chronology, proximity (Abernethy is
located in between Auchterarder, 24 km WSW of Abernethy, and
Cargill, 17 km N of Abernethy), and onomastics, due to the
marriage of Dervorguilla, dau. of Uhtred of Galloway, to
Laurence de Abernethy.

The chart I posted yesterday should be modified as follows:

[NOTE: the relationships appear most likely, but direct
evidence is lacking. This chart reflects conjectured
relationships thus: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ , or (?) for marriages]

Laurence de Abernethy = Dervorguilla of Galloway
d. ca. 1244 I
____I__________________
I I I
Patrick de Abernethy Hugh William
(dvp before 1244)
I_____________
_ _ _ _ _ _ I________________
I I I
(2) Sir William de = Dervorguilla Sir Hugh de Marjory
Montfichet I Abernethy
I d. 1293
I
Sir William de Montfichet = NN
of Auchterarder and Cargill I
I
______________________________I____________
I I I
Mary = Sir John Devorguille Margaret =(?) Sir Robert de
I Drummond (unmarried ?) I Danielston
I d. 1360 I d. 1397
I I
____I____________________ I_ _ _ _ _
I I I I
Sir Malcolm Sir Annabela = Robert III I
Drummond John I K of Scots I
d. ca 1402 I d. 1406 I
I I
___________________________I__ __________I____
I I I I I I
James I MARY/MARIOTA MARGARET Elizabeth
K of Scots = 1) George = Sir William = Robert
d. 1437 Douglas, Cunyngham Maxwell
E of Angus d. bef Dec of
2) Sir James 1415 Calderwood
Kennedy
3) Sir William
Graham

The attachment of Dervorguilla to the Abernethy family may
also help to explain (if weakly) why she adhered to the English
cause ca. 1296, as we also have Sir Alexander de Abernethy (her
alleged nephew) supporting the English position beyond the year
1310.

Should you (or anyone else of the list) have additional
documentation or criticism re: the above, that would be most
welcome indeed.

Cheers,

John *

NOTES

[1] VCH Cambridge, IX:195-199, concerning Oakington:

' It had been held in demesne since the early 12th century by
the Olifards of Lilford (Northants.), (Footnote 17) including
probably Hugh Olifard by 1130, (Footnote 18) William Olifard, a
vassal of the king of Scots, c. 1155–70, (Footnote 19) and John
Olifard, c. 1175– 80. (Footnote 20) It then passed to
descendants of William's brother David (d. c. 1170), settled in
Scotland, and was considered a dependency of Lilford. David's
son Walter, lord before 1216, (Footnote 21) was succeeded by his
son and namesake, who c. 1235 held 2½ hides at Oakington as 1
knight's fee, (Footnote 22) and died in 1242. His son and heir
David, lord by 1244, (Footnote 23) died without issue, probably
before 1250. Oakington remained for her life with his widow
Dervorguilla, who occupied it until the 1290s. In 1279 the whole
Olifard demesne, 1½ hides, was held under 'the lady of Lilford'
in fee farm. (Footnote 24) The heir was Walter of Moray
(d. 1284), son of David's sister, (Footnote 25) whose son
William (d. s.p. 1300) conveyed his right in Oakington with
Lilford between 1296 and 1299 to Anthony Bek, bishop of Durham,
(Footnote 26) lord there c. 1302. (Footnote 27) '

footnotes to VCH text:
' 15 e.g. Liber de Bernewelle, 241; Bk. of Fees, ii. 938.
16 Close R. 1242–7, 206; cf. Rot. Hund. (Rec. Com.), ii. 449.
17 For the Olifards, Scots Peerage, ed. J. B. Paul, vi.
522– 9; Farrer, Honors and Knights' Fees, i. 354–5.
18 Pipe R. 1130 (H.M.S.O. facsimile), 48; cf. ibid. 85.
19 Pipe R. 1156–8 (Rec. Com.), 166; 1163 (P.R.S. v), 38;
1170 (P.R.S. xvi), 198.
20 Ibid. 1177 (P.R.S. xxvi), 185; 1180 (P.R.S. xxix), 35;
1181 (P.R.S. xxx), 95.
21 Rot. Litt. Claus. (Rec. Com.), i. 286.
22 Liber de Bernewelle, 241; cf. B.L. Add. MS. 5805, f. 50.
23 Close R. 1242–7, 206.
24 Rot. Hund. ii. 449; cf. Cal. Chanc. Wts. i. 66–8, 107.
25 For the Morays, Scots Peerage, ii. 122–5.
26 Cal. Chanc. Wts. i. 68, 107; cf. Cal. Pat. 1292–1301, 184;
Cal. Inq. p.m. iv, pp. 502–3.
27 Feud. Aids, i. 148.

* John P. Ravilious