i. William Crespin, b. ca. 1030.ii. William Crespin II., b. ca. 1060.

iii. William Crespin III., b. ca. 1085, d. 1135, who, in 1119, nearly killed Henry 1 at the Battle of Bremule. He repeatedly fought against Henry I., alongside his cousin, Amaury de Montfort, in his sphere of influence around L’Aigle and Gisors – fortress areas near Neaufles. He also fought with his cousin against the French who sought to usurp Amaury de Montfort’s lands. Milo Crispin noted that William Crispin III. admired his grandmother, Eve Crispin, ‘with fitting love.’ He also records his death in French captivity, and the granting of his wish to be buried at Le Bec. He m. Joanna de Trèves. (Ctl. St. Aubin, ii, no. DCCCCXXXI, 1114). Robert de Dangu was otherwise Robert de Chandos.

Robert de Chandos was made castellan of Dangu in 1119, the hereditary privilege of the Crispin family. William Crispin lII had been deprived of it by king Henry I for taking the side of William Cleto, son of Robert Courteheuse in the struggle for power within the Norman elite. A fellow ‘conspirator’ was William’s brother, Thibaut (Crispin) de Gisors, who, with his cousin, Amaury de Montfort, led an attack on Gisors, but were defeated by the troops led by Robert de Chandos, military commander for Henry I. (Aristide Guilbert, History of the cities of France, vol. v., p. 551., 1848).

iv. Joscelin Crispin, b. ca. 1115, m. Isabella, dau. of Robert de Dangu. (BN, ms. lat. 18369, pp. 55-57).

v. William Crispin IV., b. ca. 1150, s.l. 1223, m. Eve, dau. of William de Harcourt (Le Prevost, 11, 6-8, 1862-1869), and Alice Noel, and sister of Richard de Harcourt, who m. Arabella, dau. of Saher de Quincey, and sister of Robert de Quincy; their half-sister, Asceline, m. Thomas de Colville, son of William de Colville (and Maud d’Albini), br.-in-law of Robert de Gand.

(i. Saher de Quincey. ii. Arabella de Quincey, m. Richard de Harcourt, whose sister, Eve, m. William Crispin IV. ii. Saher de Quincy. iii.Robert de Quincey. iii. Asceline de Quincey, m. Thomas de Colville, son of William de Colville and Maud d’Albini).

The Quincys bore or, a fesse gules, the exact arms that the Colvilles assumed. Asceline’s sister, Hawise, m. Baldwin Wake, grandf. of Margaret Wake, wife of John Comyn, Lord of Badenoch, the forfeited lands of his family devolving to Walter FitzGilbert (de Colville).
Thomas de Colville was the uncle of Hawise de Colville, who m. Hugh de Berc., tenant of the Colvilles. Their descendant, William de Berc, witnessed a grant with “Walter de Hameldon” (both of Stanford, Rutland), son of Gilbert de Colville.

(i.Saher de Quincy m. (after 1136) Matilda de Saint Liz, relict of Roger FitzGilbert de Clare, and mother of Matilda FitzRobert de Clare, wife of William d’Albini BrIto II., their son marrying Maud de Umframville, their granddau. being the wife of Walter de Colville.

ii. Saher de QuIncy (d. 1190) m., in 1162, Asceline, widow of Geoffrey de Waterville, sister and coh. of William Peverel, of Bourn, co. Cambridge (who d. on Crusade, 1147-48), da. of Robert Peverel, of the same, by his wife Adelicia. In 1190, her da. Asceline de Wateville owed 60m. for seisin of the lands of her mother, who was wife of Saher de Quency (Pipe Roll, 2 Ric. I., p. 29; 4 Ric. I., p. 261; cf. Farrer, Feudal Cambridgeshire, p. 160).

Ascelina de Waterville was a great benefactresses to the nuns of S. Michael the Archangel by Stanford (Bytham Catle) … ‘For the souls of my father & my mother, & for the fouls of my lords & children, & all my anestors, & for the health of my soul … Witnesses, Hugh the capellan, Thomas de Colevill, Geoffry de Colevill, Ralph de Colevill, Philip de Colevill … & many others. These are the sons and nephews of William de Colville and Maud d’Albini, that is, ‘William le Colevil & Matilda my wife (i. e. Maud d’Albini), have given & granted, & for me & my heirs sold, & by this our present charter confirmed to the monk & his heirs, for his service, one half acre of land to wit, that which lies beyond the land of the church towards North-Witham … witness (his grandson) Thomas son of Ascelina, son of his son Thomas, who predeceased his brother, William, the heir of Bytham.

Peck in his ‘History of Stamford’ recites three deeds of gift from Ascelina de Waterville to the nuns of St. Michael’s in Stamford, the first of which was witnessed by William de Colewill. Peck speaks of the first William de Colville as ‘Lord of Bitam’, as early as February, 1171. Quoting from Dugdale, he writes: ‘Richard Humet, Lord of Stamford, at the request of William de Colvile, Baron of Bitam, a person highly respected by him, gave St. Andrew’s Church in Stamford, whereof he was patron, to be appropriated to the nuns of St. Michael’.

iii. Robert de Quincy, granted the ancient castle of Forfar by his cousin, William I of Scotland, m. Orabella. His half-sister, Asceline, m. Thomas de Colville, br. of William de Colville, who m. Maud d’Albini.

iv. Saher de Quincy, one of the 25 sureties of the Magna Carta.

v. Roger de Quincy.

vi. Elizabeth de Quincey, m. Alexander de Comyn, 6th Earl of Buchan, Constable of Scotland (obit. 1290), uncle of John Comyn, who m. Isabella de Ros.

Robert Brus granted to Walter Fitz-Gilbert the whole tenement of Machan which belonged to John Comyn. In 1320, Walter Fitz-Gilbert presented certain vestments, a chalice, two phials, and a censer of silver, to the altar of the Virgin in the crypts of the cathedral, reserving the use of them for the chapel of Saint Mary of Maychan at the four great feasts of Christmas, Easter, Whitsunday, and the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin, yearly (Origines Parochiales Scotiae, p. 107, 1851).

vii. Elizabeth Comyn, m. Gilbert de Umframville II., Earl of Angus).

iv. Willelmo de Colevilla,* b.ca. 1120-1125. Sproxton and Newton, apud Occham. (1155-1158) — H. Rex Angiorum et Dux Normannorum et Aquitannorum et Comes And [egavorum] Archiepiscopo Eboraci et Justic’, et Vicecomiti et omnibus baronibus et fidelibus suis Francis et Anglis de Eborac’ scira salutem. Sciatis me concessisse Roberto filio Roberti (de Ros) cum testa totam terram Roberti patris sui quam tenuit in capite de rege Henrico avo meo et de quocunque eam tenuisset et ministerium patris sui. Et volo et precipio ut teneat bene et in pace et honorifiee et quiete in omnibus rebus sicut pater suus in omnibus rebus umquam melius et honorificentius tenuit et eodem servicio et cum omnibus consuetudinibus suis cum quibus pater suus tenuit. Testibus: Toma cancellario; Henrieo de Essexa constabulario; Willelmo de Colevilla; Sehero de Quenci.

Temp. Stephen. (1135-1154). Charter of Maud, countess of Chester, addressed to constables, barons, castellans, justices, sheriffs, officers, bailiffs, and all her men, French and English. She gives to Belvoir Priory a bovate which Jocscelin’ holds in Wulstorp, with the service of him and his wife. Testibus, comite Willelmo Lineolnie (William de Roumare) et Willelmo de Colevill’Charter of Robert de Ros confirming the gift of Walter Espec his uncle to the church of St. Mary of Rievaux, for the soulsof his said uncle, his father and mother, and his brother Evarard. His testibus: Henrico Eboracensi archiepiseopo ; RobertoButtevillano archidiacono; Magistro Laurentio; Thoma Sottowain; Nicholao de Trailli; Rogero priore de Bredlingetun; Gregorio canonicho suo; Magistro Gervasio; Adam de Brus; Johanne filio Ricardi filio Eustachii; Roberto clerico nepote domini Roberti de Ros; Rogero capellano ; Willelmo Barathe; Willelmo de Stainegrifa; Petro de Surdesvall’; Willelmo fratre suo; Willelmo Falvel dapifero; Willelmo de Heirun; Stephano filio Bonifacii; Ernald del Cheinne; *Willelmo Crispino; Stephano nepote domini Roberti de Ros.

Willelmo de Colevilla = Willelmo Crispino.

Sproxton and Newton, apud Ocham. (1155-1158) — H. Rex Angiorum et Dux Normannorum et Aquitannorum et Comes Andegavorum Archiepiscopo Eboraci et Justic’, et ViceComiti] et omnibus baronibus et fidelibus suis Francis et Anglis de Eborac’ scira salutem. Sciatis me concessisse Roberto filio Roberti (de Ros) cum testa totam terram Roberti patris sui quam tenuit in capite de rege Henrico avo meo et de quocunque eam tenuisset et ministerium patris sui. Et volo et precipio ut teneat bene et in pace et honorifiee et quiete in omnibus rebus
sicut pater suus in omnibus rebus umquam melius et honorificentius tenuit et eodem servicio et cum omnibus consuetudinibussuis cum quibus pater suus tenuit. Testibus: Toma cancellario; Henrico de Essexa constabulario; Willelmo de Colevilla; Sehero de Quenci.

v. William de Colville.(ca. 1200) — Notum sit omnibus sancte matris ecclesie filiis tam futis quam presentibus quod ego Willelmus de Colevilla. pro salute anime mee et uxoris mee et heredum et antecessorum meorum dedi et concessi et presenti carta mea confirmavi deo et ecclesie Sancti Andree de Osolvestona et canonicis ibidem deo servientibus in liberam et perpetuam elemosinam unum de molendinis meis de Mostona scilicet illud quod est apud Seckesbroc cum crofto predicto molendino adjacenti sine aliquo retenemento habendum et tenendum libere et quiete ab omni servicio et seculari exactione Reddendo annuatim unam marcam argenti Sanctimonialibus de Sancto Michaele de Stanford, adfestum sancti Michaelis, quam marcam Willelmus de Colevilla pater meus concessit eisdem monialibus in eodem molendino.Et quia volo ut hec donacio firma permaneat eam sigilli mei apposicione corroboravi. His testibus: Rogero de Alneto; Willelmo de Amundevilla.

v. Roger de Colville. Sciant presentes et futuri quod ego Rogerus de Colevilla dedi et concessi et hac presenti carta mea confirmasse Willelmo de Colevilla fratri meo totam terram meam de Mustona cum omnibus pertinenciis infra villam et extra tenendam et habendam in tota vita sua quamdiu vixerit de me et heredibus meis haere et quiete bene et in pace facieudo inde mihi et heredibus servicium quod ad dictam terram pertinet. Et post decessum dicti Willelmi tota dicta terra cum pertinentiis vertat et descendat Willelmo filio meo et heredibus suis et si dictus Willelmus filius mens obierit sine herede de se tota dicta terra cum pertinenciis vertat et descendat Rogero fratri
suo vel propinquiori fratri suorum. Hiis testibus: Thoma de Colevilla, militibus.

vi. Walter de Colville. (1258) — Charter of Robert de Ros and Isabel, his wife, notifying that, on the church of Redmild becoming vacant by the death of Roger de Tremeley, its rector, and their claiming the presentation in oppsosition to the prior and convent of Belvoir,
who presented master Roger de Leycestria, they, at length, having examined the Priory’s evidences, and finding they had no right
of presentation, have renounced their claim to present in favour of the prior and convent. Hiis testibus: domino Waltero Colvile.

vii. Gilbert de Colville, b. ca. 1255. The Writs of Military Service show (1292) Gilbertus Coleville performing military service in Scotland due from Gilbertus de Neville, who was elected a Knight of the co. of Lincoln in 1290, performing such service in 1277 due to Gilbert de Gand (br. of Juliana d’Armenters), son of Gilbert de Gand, Earl of Lincoln and Alice d’Albini.

viii. Walter FitzGilbert. Grant by William Berc and Walter de Hameldon, both of Staunford (Stamford), to Raymond le Spicer of the same, Edda his wife, and his heirs and assigns, of a garden in the parish of St Mary of Bynewerk, Staunford, between the town wall and the garden of the prior of St Leonard near Staunford. Sunday after St Giles, 2 Edward III. 1328-1329. (C 146/3891).

Walter was a tenant of his kinsman Gilbert de Umfraville in Hameldon.

Gilbertus de Umfravil. Inq. ad 9. d. Dicunt juratores super sacramentum suum quod est ad damnum omini Regis si concedat Gilberto de Umfranvyll Comiti de Anegus quod ipse dare possit et assignare manerium de Oterburn’, quod est in libertate de Redesdale, Willielmo de Faunes, habendum et tenendum dicto Willielmo et hæredibus suis de domino Rege et hæredibus suis per servitia inde debita et consueta imperpetuum; ita quod idem Willielmus habita inde plena et pacifica seisina reoffeffare possit prædictum Gilbertum et Elizabetham uxorem ejus de prædicto manerio, habendo et tenendo prædictis Gilberto et Elyzabethæ et hæredibus ipsius Gilberti de domino Rege et bæredibus suis imperpetuum per servitia prædicta; in hoc, quod si contingat prædictum Gilbertum de Umfranvyllet Robertum filium et hæredem ejusdem, vivente Elyzabetha prædicta, in fata decedere, tunc dominus Rex amitteret duas partes quadraginta marcarum per annum usque ad legitimam ætatem hæredis prædicti Roberti, filii et hæredis prædicti Gilberti, qui nunc est ætatis ‘unius’ anni et amplius. Ei est ad damnum et præjudicium prædicti Roberti filii et hæredis prædicti Gilberti in hoc quod si prædictus Gilbertus, vivente prædicta Elyzabetha, in fata decederet quod prædictus Robertus amitteret duas partes quadraginta marcarum per annum in tota vita prædictæ Elyzabethae. Et remanent eidem Comiti maneria de Hameldon et Overton in comitatu Rotelandiæ post mortem Margaretæ quæ fuit uxor Gilberti filii prædicti Gilberti.

“A sensible proposition is that they (Hamiltons) were kin, or vassals of the Umfraville lords of Redesdale and the earls of Angus”. (Bruce A. McAndrew, Scotland’s Historic Heraldry, p. 235, 200).

Most genealogical reconstructions owe little to sense, of course; more to the vanity of claimants.

293v Great Domesday Book Hameldun/Hameldune.

People mentioned: Alvred of Lincoln; Besi; Church of Oakham; Churches of Middle, Nether and Upper Hambleton; Countess Judith; Earl Harold; Earl Waltheof; Hugh d’Avranches, Earl of Chester; Erik; Fulcher Malsor; Geoffrey; Geoffrey, man of Gilbert de Ghent; Gilbert de Ghent; Goda; Godwine; Herbert; Hugh; Hugh de Hotot; Joscelin, man of Hugh d’Avranches, Earl of Chester; King William as landholder; King William as monarch; Leofnoth; Leofric; Ogier fitzUngemar; Priest of Church of Oakham; Priests of Nether Middle and Upper Hambleton Churches; Queen Edith; Robert Malet.

Robert Malet, held the fief of Collavilla, near Harfleur, Seine-Inf. Domesday shows *Gilbert de Colavilla” as a considerable undertenant of Robert Malet at Rendlesham; he also held under Robert Malet’s mother, Hesilia Crispin (DB/Sf 6/19-21, 29-30, 34-37, etc.). That is, Gilbert Crispin/Colville II. was a tenant of his cousin and aunt. Gilbert’s br., William Crespin II, was a tenant of his cousin in Yorkshire, whose forfeited lands were given to William de Percy, the new overlord of William Crespin/Colville II.

Some part of Hameldun passed to the Percys. Cartularium Prioratus de Gyseburne, CCCCXCIV. Petrus de Cliveland. …Deo et Can. de Gyseburne, tres acras cum pert. terræ arabilis et prati in Campis de Ormesby; scil. sunam acram) ad Sandpittes, et duas acras terræ cum pert. contra Hameldon, propinquiores terræ Walteri de Percy versus occidentem.

iii. Thomas de Colville, witnessed a gift of Roger de Mowbray I. (whose wife was the cousin of Alan de Percy II., and who was the overlord of Thomas de Colville, who had married Roger’s kinswoman) of land in Stainton which was confirmed by Henry II. (1155-1157). He was a tenant of Roger de Mowbray, and probably m. his niece. ‘Thomas de Colevilla’, received from his feudal lord, Roger Mowbray, the Yorkshire manors of Coxwold, Yearsley and Oulston, between 1154-1157, for the service of one knight’s fee. The manor of Coxwold included vills of Ireton, Ampleforth, Osgodby, Thirkleby, and Baxby. Roger de Mowbray m. Alice de Gand, granddau. of William de Percy, He was lord of Epingham, situated on the road from Oakham to Stanford, juxta Normanton and Hameldun. Temp. Domesday, Empingham was held as two manors by Gilbert de Gand. (V.C.H. Rutl. i, 142). Sir Roger de Mowbray, great-grandson of the said Roger, held the manor in 1259, and the overlordship descended with one fee in the manor of Hameldon. (Cal. Inq. Hen. III, no. 421. Ibid. 24 Hen. VI, no. 41).

ALBINI

i. William d’ Albini Brito, of Saint-Aubin-d’Aubigné (Ille-et-Vilaine) m. Cecily Bigod, obit. 1135, dau. of Roger Bigod, I, Earl of East Anglia and Adeliza de Toeni, heiress of Belvoir.

ii. Ralph d’Albini, obtained fifteen knights’ fees from his brother William, in the 12th of Henry II, and in the 28th of the same reign, he gave two hundred marks for license to marry the mother of Evrard de Ross, (whose name was Sibill de Valoines, widow firstly of Robert de Ros, and secondly of William de Percy, son of Allan de Percy II. and Emma de Gand. This feudal baron, who founded some religious houses, died at Acre, in the Holy Land, in 1190.

iii. Gunnora de Albini m. (1) Robert de Gand, (2) Nicholas de Stuteville I.

iv. Gilbert de Gand.

iii. Maud d’Albini, m. William de Colville, who held one night’s fee of Robert de Gand in Lincs. In 1205-6, William de Colville agreed to pay the king a fine of 20 mares and one palfrey, to have seisin of Normanton, co. Leicester.

iv. William de Colville, son and heir, m. Beatrice de Stuteville, one of the daus. of Roger de Stuteville, sheriff of Northumberland, her sister being Alice, widow of Roger de Merlay; their issue being: Roger de Merlay, who m. Margery de Umframville, dau. of Richard Umframville, and sister of Gilbert de Umframville I.

v. Roger de Colville, of Bytham Castle, Lincolnshire.

vi. Walter de Colville, born c. 1215, obit. 1277, m. Isabel d’ Albini, of Aubourn and Counthorpe, Lincs., dau. of Odenel d’ Albini Brito, son of William d’Albini Brito I.* and Matilda, dau of Odonel de Umframville.

vii. Roger de Colville. William de Breus was granted wardship on May 8, 1288 of the lands late of Roger de Coleville, son of Walter, tenant in chief of Bytham and other places in co. Lincoln, reserving to the King the marriage of the heirs during their minority (PRO, Calendar of the Patent Rolls, 1272-1281 p.247).

vii. Gilbert de Colville, kin and vassal of the Umfraville lords of Redesdale. Gilbert was probably heir of the Normanton lands of his father. Normanton was one of the berewicks of the king’s manor of ‘Hameldune’, and in 1183 the sheriff rendered account of 25s. 8d. from Normanton, held by Odinell de Umfraville. Normanton was subinfeudated. Eustachia, relict of Robert d’Albini Brito, grandson of William d’Albini II., claimed a third of 20 virgates and 5 acres of land in Normanton against Gilbert de Umfraville in 1237.

ii. William d’ Albini II., M. Matilda FitzRobert de Clare, dau. of Matilda de Saint Liz, relict of Roger FitzGilbert de Clare, who m. (2)
Saher de Quincy (after 1136).

iii. William d’Albini III., m. Matilda, the dau. of Odonel de Umframville (grandfather of Gilbert de Umframville), whose family armorial was gules, 3 cinque foils or. The Colvilles were tenants by c. 1200 of the Belvoir estate of Temple manor, they also held land in Muston and Normanton, probably obtained through the marriage of William de Colville to Maud, the eldest dau. and eventual coheir of Ralph de Albini (Cf. Pipe R. 1194 (P.R.S. n.s. v), 118; 1202 (P.R.S. N.S. xv), 222–3; Feet of Fines, 7–8 Ric. I (Pipe R. Soc. xx), pp. 99–100). William de Colville died c. 1185, and was succeeded by his son William (Pipe R. 1174 (P.R.S. xxi), 97; 1179 (P.R.S. xxviii), 50–1; cf. Lincs. Eyre, 1218–19 (Selden Soc. liii), 358–9), who died in 1230 (Ex. e Rot. Fin. (Rec. Com.), i. 199; Cur. Reg. R. xiv, pp. 95, 144–6).

iv. Odinel d’ Albini Brito, obit. November 26, 1235, m. Hawise. In 1238, Richard de Waterville received custody of the lands of Odinel at Dalton, Yorkshire, against Roger de Colville, until Odinel’s heir, William, was of age.

iv. Isabel d’Albini, m. Robert de Ros. A manuscript concerning the foundation of Rievaulx Abbey records: ‘Robertum de Roos’ m. ‘Isabellam hæredem d´Albany’… ‘Robert de Ros and Isabel his wife were granted rights ‘in the manor of Belvoir by all bounds by which William de Albiniaco, father of the said Isabel who is his heiress, held’ (July 3, 1252). The close affinity of the Colville and Ros family is shown in Muston, Hund. of Framland. In 1200, William Bosco required a guarantee from William Colville for half the land he held in Muston (Ab. Placitor. 98). In 1276, Walter de Colville held it. In 1291, Robert de Ros, was a candidate for the crown of Scotland.

v. Isabel de Ros, m. Walter de Fauconberg, their granddau., Joan, m. a descendant of Philip de Colville, uncle of Walter de Colville.

v. William de Ros, m. Maud de Vaux, dau. of John de Vaux.

vi. Alice de Ros, who m. John Comyn (Lincoln Assize Rolls, Lincoln N.& Q., vol. ix., p. 250).

vii. Sir John Comyn, d. 1332. Robert Brus granted to Walter Fitz-Gilbert the whole tenement of Machan which belonged to John Comyn. In 1320, Walter Fitz-Gilbert presented certain vestments, a chalice, two phials, and a censer of silver, to the altar of the Virgin in the crypts of the cathedral, reserving the use of them for the chapel of Saint Mary of Maychan at the four great feasts of Christmas, Easter, Whitsunday, and the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin, yearly (Origines Parochiales Scotiae, p. 107, 1851).

v. Mary de Ros, m. William de Braose, br. of Richard de Braose, whose dau., Margaret, m. Roger de Colville, son of Walter de Colville, and br. of Gilbert de Colville, father of Walter de Colville, styled Walter de Hameldun, supra.

Of course, there were many different families of Hamilton to be found in Scotland, mostly not related to the ducal one, whatever the claim.

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