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ACCOUNT OF THE

FAMILY OF VAUX,
VANS, OR DE
VALLIBUS. 1800

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SKETCH OF A
GENEALOGICAL and HISTORICAL
ACCOUNT OF THE
FAMILY O F

Vaux, Vans, or De Vallibus:


Now Reprefented by that of

VANS AGNEW,
O F

BARNBARROW, &c.
In the County of W I GTO N,

S C O T LA N D.
PEMB ROKE:
PRINTED BV W. E. W1LM0T,
MDCCC.
SKETCH
OF A

GENEALOGICAL and HISTORICAL


ACCOUNT OF THE FAMILY OF

De Vaux, or De Vallibus.

T,HIS Family was firft known in the County of Provence in the South A. D.
of France, and with regard to its Origin there are many Conjectures.

The beft founded feems to be that the Family was a Branch of the
Vifigothic Balti, a Race, which boafted having given a long Line of
Monarchs to the Weftern Goths, with the formidable name of Alaric 500.
at the Head of the Lift.
[ 4 ]

A. D. The Records of thofe remote and barbarous Times are however too
obfcure to afford any regular or authentic Account, and it need not be
infifted on, for there are few Families whofe Vanity would not be fuf*

ficiently gratified, by finding that from before the Time of Charlemagne


their Hiftory can be traced from authentic Sources, and that at fo diftant

a Period they held a very diftinguifhed Rank. Their principal Refidence


was at the Caftle of Baux, fituated upon an elevated Rock near to the

City of Aries, where the Ruins may yet be feen.

As it would much exceed our intended Limits to give a detailed

Account of all the foreign Branches of the Name, we mall only briefly
ftate the leading Cireumftances of their Hiftory, mentioning the
Authors from whom we have drawn our Information, and in whofe
Works further Particulars may be found.

We muft however previoufly remind our Readers that in many Lan-


guages the Letters B and V are frequently ufed indifcriminatcly
this has not only been noticed by many Grammarians*, hut is known
to every one who has travelled from the Northern to the Southern
Provinces of France.

* See Chambers', Moreri's & Veneroni's Dictionaries.


t S ]

ORIGINAL PROVENCE FAMILY.

ilBOUT the year eight hundred, Rollin or Goflelin de Baux married A. D.


Herinbrue, Daughter and Heirefs to William Sovereign Count of 800.
Orange, and Niece to Bertha Wife to the Emperor Charlemagne.

The Family continued to be great Lords in Provence, and it appears


from many Documents that in one thoufand and forty, William de Baux 1040.
Vaux, was Prince or Count of Baux, and Sovereign of SeventySeven
or de
Towns and Villages which are called to this Day LES TERK.ES
B.-iUoSENQUES, and of which Number were Aix, Marfeilles, and
feveral others of much Conflderation.

Raymond de Baux, his Son and Heir, married Etiennette, only


Daughter of Gilbert Count Sovereign of Provence, and Niece to Douce,
Wife to Raymond Berenger, Count of Barcelona. On the Death of
Gilbert, Raymond deBaux and his Wife took Poffeffion of Provence, of
which Inveftiture was given them by theEmperor Conrad in 1 146, but 1 146.
foon after their Right was difputed by Raymond Berenger, aided by his
Uncle the King of Arragon, and about the year 1 150, they were obliged 1 150.
to renounce all their Pretentions to the County of Provence, and to do
Homage Towns before mentioned, of which
for the Seventy Seven

th?v retained the Sovereignty. Of their Marriage there were four


Sons, Hugh, William, who became a Monk, Bertrand, and Gilbert.

Hugh fucceeded his Father, and endeavoured to recover Pofleflion of


the County of Provence, but after fome Struggle, by the Intervention
of the Emperor Frederic the Second, a definitive Treaty of Peace was
concluded in 1 177, by which he and his Mother Etiennette renounced *177*
all claims upon Provence, but fecured the independent Sovereignty of
the Terres Bauflenques without any Homage, and the Right of the
Princes of Baux to coin Money, which, with that of the Count, had
14$
A. D. an exclufive Currency through Provence, was fully recognifed, as
all

alfo their Privilege of marching in Military Array and with Banners

difplayed in all the Country bounded by the Alps, the Ifere, the Rhone
and the Sea. Hugh left a Son, .
A
Rainaud, who was married to Alix of Marfeille's, buthjd no Iflue.

Bertrand," Uncle to the preceding, and third Son to Raymond, fuc-


ceeded and became Prince of Orange by Marriage with Tiburge,
Daughter to William the Second, and Heirefs to that Principality.
1181. Bertrand was affafiinated in 1181 by the Inftigation of Raymond Count
of Thouloufe, and leit three Sons, William who fucceeded him, Ber-
trand who was the Progenitor of the Branches of Iftria and of Brantoux
in Italy, and Hugh, married to Barrale Vifcountefs of Marfeilles, by
whom he had but one Son, who became a Prieft.

1 182. William, Prince of Baux and Orange, began to reign in 1 182. He


affumed the Title of King of Aries, which was conferred on him by
the Emperor Frederic the Second. He had by different Wives two
Sons, William and Raymond.

William the eldeft Son, fucceeded him as Prince of Baux and Orange,

'393* anc^ King of Aries, and theMaleDefcent went on till the year 1393, when

Raymond the Fifth left, by his Wife Jane of Geneva, Niece to

Pope Clement the Seventh, only two Daughters Marie and Alix, the
latter of whom died unmarried.

Marie deBaux, Princefs of Orange, married John deChalons, and car-


ried the Principality into that Family, from which by another Heirefs,

ir jo. it paffed into the Hands of the Houfe of Naffau about the year 1 530*.

* The Books which have been confulted in compiling the foregoing Account are, More-
ri's DicVioiaary Articles Baux & Orange. La Pife.Hift. d'Orange. Bouche Hift. de France
& de Provence. Chorier Hift. de Dauphine & Ruffy Hift. dea Comtes de Provence.
[[ 7 1

ITALIAN BRANCHES OF THE FAMILY OF


> II tin . ..-., I
. >\

BAUX OR VAUX.
T<HE younger Sons of the Provence Family, who at different times A. D.
fettled in Italy, were, in the Language of that Country, frequently called
Del Balfo or Del Valfo, and their Defendants became fo confiderable,

and fo numerous in it, that we muft content ourfelves with mentioning


a few of the mod confpicuous and mofi: celebrated among them.

Bertrand de B;iux, fecond Son to William II. Prince of Orange of


the name, fettled in the Kingdom of Naples in 1283. H ;
s Son Bertrand 1283.
was Count of Montescagioie, of Squfilace and of Andria. He married
Beatrix, Daughter to Charles II. King of Naples and Sicily. She died
in 1332, leaving a Daughter, who married Humbert Dauphin of 1332.
Viennois, and a Son.

Francois de Baux, Duke of Andria, who having obtained the Prin-


cipalities of Taranto and Achaia, tranfmitted them to his Son

Jaques de Baux, who married Agnes de Duras, Grand Daughter


toJohn of Sicily, and afTumc J die Title of Emperor of Constantinople
and Defpot of Romania.

The Dukes of Andria continued long at the Head of the Neapolitan


Nobility, and ended in an Heir Female, who about the Year 1490, 1490.
married Frederic, Prince of Arragon, afterwards King of Naples.

Finally, the Name of De Baux or De Vaux, became extindl: in the


Kingdom of Naples, in the Perfon of the Earl of Caftro, more than
a Century ago*.

* The following Books have furnifhed the. Materials of the foregoing Account, Dift.
de Moreri. Ammirato Famiglie Napolit. Ferrante della Maria Fa-
miglie Eftinte.
delle
... ..
Dii'c. delle
[ 8 ]

NORMAN BRANCH OF THE FAMILY OF


DE BAUX OR DE VAUX.

A. D. IN an old Manufcript Hiftory of Tournaments, formerly preferved


in the Celeftine Convent at now in England, is the
Avignon, but
following Paflage, " William Longfword, Duke of Normandy, held
929. " a Tournament at Rouen in 929, to which he invited Combatants
" from every part of France, and of the neighbouring Countries.

" In confequence of this Invitation, Bertrand de Bauxof Provence


*' went into Normandy, and was fo well received by Duke William,
" who conferred many Favors on him, that he fettled in it, and became
" Progenitor of the Family of De Vaux, which long held a difti'n-
*' guiihed Rank among the Nobles of Normandy."
Several Circumftances tend to corroborate this Account of the In-
troduction uf the Name into Normandy. Before the Time mentioned,
no Notice is taken of it in Du Chefne's Collections, or in Du Moulin's'
Hiftory, but after that Period the Name frequently occurs. Du Moulins
particularly mentions the Tournament, and the Affluence of Strangers
who attended it. In a Lift of Ftoda Normanniae, given by Du Chcfne,
there are many of the Name of De Vaux or De Vallibus. In Dugdale's
Monafticon it appears that a Radolfus de Vaux was a Witnefs to a Grant
from William the Conqueror to the Monaftery of Fontaines in Nor-
mandy. The fame Name is to be found in a Lift, given by Du Moulins,
of the great Lords who diiiinguifhed themfelves during that Reign

and the preceding, and by another Lift given by the fame Author, of
the Names and Arms of who were at the
the diftinguilhed Perfons
Conqueft of Jerufalem in 1096, under Robert Court-heufe Duke of
Normandy and Godefroy de Bullion, it appears that Raoul de Vaux
[ 9 1

* of Normandy, bore the fame Arms with De Vaux d'Orange, viz. Gules, A. D.
a Bend Argent*.

The Family of De Vaux connected itfelf with feveral of the firft

Families in Normandy, and continued to flourish for a confiderable


Number of Years in that Province-]".
c

* The following are the Arms borne by the different Perfons of the Name who wets
at the Conqueft of Jerufalem.

Raoul de Vaux de Normandie D'Hermines a un Chef de Gueulles a un ray d' Argent.

Bertrand de Vaux de Bourgogne de Gueulles a un ray d' Argent.

Aumary de Vaux de Bourgogne party de Gueulles a un ray d' Argent, contre dc


Gueulles a une Croix d'Or Vrudce, patee & pommetee.

De Vaux d'Orange, Ecartelc de Vaux & d'Orange.

Le Prince d'Orange, d'Or a un Cor d' Azur Ecartele cle Vaux.

Monfieur Jacques de Vaux, Partie des Armes de France, a une Bande d'Argent & de
Gueulles a un Ray d'Argent.

t Further Infor nation may be obtained from Les Recherches fur Ips Annquiries 3e

l'Hiftoire de la Normandie par Andre du Chefne, and the before mentioned Man ui'cript
Hiftory of Tournaments, which will probably be published.
t .0 ]

NORMAN BRANCH SETTLED IN ENGLAND


A. D. 1066.

A. D. JTIaROLD de Vaux, or De Vallibus, LordofVaux, a large Pa


rilh within a League of the Town of Bayeux, in Normandy, gave
that Lordfhip to theAbbey of the Holy Trinity at Caen, which was
founded by Matilda, Wife to William the Conqueror. The Charter
of Donation was, before the Revolution, in the Chartulary of the
Library of the King of France, (number 5650*,) and probably ftill

exifts in the Archives of the Republic.

The Rolls of Battle Abbey, and the Chartulary of Caen, prove that
Harold de Vaux came from Normandy into England, with William
1066. the Conqueror, in 1066, and that he had three Sons, Hubert, Ra-
1072. nulph, and Robert-f-. In 1072, upon receiving a Gift of the County
of Cumberland from the Conqueror, Ranulph de Mefchines gave large
PoiTeffions therein to the three Sons, who were his Kinfmen. To Hubert,
the eldeft he gave the great Barony of GiUeO-md, to Ranulph, Sowerby,
Carlatton, and Hubbertby, and to Robert the Barony of DalitonJ.

Thofe Pofleffions were confirmed to them by fucceeding Kings, and


they held direcily from the Crown from about the end of the Reign pj
the Conqueror; for when Ranulph de Mefchines exchanged Cumber-
land for the Earldom of Chefter, he made it a Condition, that th -fe

who had received Lands from him mould retain them, and become
immediate Vaflals of the Crown.

* Extract taken by the Abbe de Larut , formerly Profefior of Hiftory at Caen, and
now in En^l md.

t See Eugdale's Earorr. & Monaft. Anglic. Hutchinfon's Hiftory of Cumberland.


Stow's Chron Tanner's Not. Monaft. Eeland Collect. Du Mouhn's Hift. dc la

Normandie. Hift. Noiman. Script. Ait:q. Andre du Che.ne.

J Dugdale, and Hutchinfon's Hift. of Cumberland.

Lord Lyttleton's Hiftory of Henry II. Notes to the ift. Book.


C1LLESLAND BRANCH.
H,UBERT de Vaux, or de Vallibus, was the firft Lord of Parlia- A. D
nient for the Barony of Gillefland after the Conqueft. Hxs Wife was
Gracia, and he left two Sons, Robert and Ranulph*.

Hubert granted the Lands of Denton to one Wefcop, by a curious


Deed, which proves bis Antiquity, and fhows what Sort of People
inhabitated Cumberland at that remote Period. It is thus addrefic-d,
'
Omnibus Cumbrenfibus-, Francigenis, Alienigenis, Dams ct Nor-
mannis, Hubertus de Vallibus Salutem, &c-{-."

Robertus fucceeded his Father, and was the fecond Lord of Par-
liament. He married Ada, Daughter and Hcirefs of Wiliiam de
Engaigne, and had one Son of his own Name, who died before him,
Robertus was Sheriff of Cumberland for ten Years, and Governor of
Carlifle, where in j 173 he was unfuccefsfully befieged by William, 1 173.
King of Scotland;};. He was frequently difturbed in the Poffetfion of
the Barony of Gillefland, by a Man of the Name of Gilles Bueth*
whofe Ancestors had former!- held it, and in a Fray between them
and their Followers Gilles Bueth was killed.

Touched with remorfe for this Event, Robertus quitted the profeffion
f Arms, and founded the Abbey of Lanercoft, the church of v\hich was
^qnfecrated by Bernard, Bilhop of Carlifle, in the Year 1 i6o

Robertus, being learned in the Law, was appointed one of the Judg s
of the Northern Oiltrict,, along with Ranulph Glanvill, and Kobtrt

* Dugdalc's Monaft. Anglic, vol. ii. p. 13O.

+ Hutchinfon's H.ft. of Cumberland.

Dug lale's Baronage, Article. Vaux. Leland's Colleftanea.


J

Hift. of Cuaib. \Jon.ift. Anglic.


t Lelanu'a Collect. & Noutia Monaftica.
w
[ 1= ]

A. D. Pic knell, and was in Aich Eftimation with Henry II. that he did
1*77. nothing in the North without his Advice*. In 1177, Robertus was
one of the Witnefles to a Decifion given by Henry II. in a Difpute

between the Kings of Caftile and of Navarre-f-.

Ranulph, Eiother to the preceding, was the next and third Lord
of Parliament. He married Johanna and had two Sons,
Robertus who fucceeded him, and Ranulph, Lord of Triermaine|.

Robertus above mentioned was the fourth Lord of Parliament. He


married and left two Sons, Hubertus and Robertus.

I2l6. In 1216, King John entrufled the Cuflody of the County of


Cumberland, and of the Town and Caftle of Carlifle, to Robertus.

He however foon after joined the other Barons againfl the King, who
confifcated all his Lands, in the Counties of Cumberland, Norfolk,
Suffolk, Somerfet and Dorfet, and gave them to Robert dc Vipont.
The 1 roubles being over, his Lands were Reftored to him, and in
1220. June 1220, Robertus was one of the Barons, who in a Treaty with
Scotland, were Sureties that Henry III. of England, would perform
- his Promife, of giving one of his Sifters in marriage to Alexander of
1222. Scotland. In 1222, he took the Crofs, and made a Pilgrimige to
Jerufalem. The Year after he was made Governor of the Caftles of Car-
1234. marthen and Cardigan, and in 1234, he was Sheriff of Devonmire||.

Hubertus, his eldeft Son fucceeded to him, and was the Lord
fifth

of Parliament. He had an only Daughter, called Matilda, who mar-


ried Thomas de Multon, and thus the Barony of Gillefland went to

* Hiftory of Cumberland, and Dugdale's Baronage.

J-
Rymer's Faedera, vol. i. p. 50.

X Hiftory of Cumberland, and Dugdale's Baronage*

Rymer's Fsdera, vol. i. p. 241.

||
Dugdale's Baronage.
r *3 i

the Multons, from whom another Heirefs, in the Reign of Edward A. ,D.
Ii. carried it into the Family of Dacres. That Family likewife ended
in a Female Heir, who in the reign of Elizabeth, married into the
Family of Norfolk, and now the Barony is in the Pofleffion of the
Earl of Carlifle*.

The Armorial Bearings of the De Vaux, or de Vallibus, of Gil-


lefland, were Ardent, a Bend, Cheeky, Or, and Gules-f-.

* Dugdale's Baronage. Hift. ofCumb. p. 51 and 135.

f Hilt, of Cumb. anJ Gentleman's Magazine, vol. i. for 1793, P* S'7*

YOUNGER BRANCHES.
T,HERE were feveral younger Branches of the De Vallihus, of
Gilltfland, eftablifhed in Cumberland. They are now all believed to.
be extinct, but the following Lift contains the Names of thole of which
the Writer of this Account has been able to find any Mention.

De Vaux of Triermaine. This Family defcended from Ranulph


Second Son toRanulph, third Lord of Gillefl.md. Roland de Vaux,
of this Houfe, was one of the Knights entrufted with the Security of
the Borders, in 1398*. He was again one of the Commifhoricrs named Mr 8.
by Henry IV. to treat with the Scots, in 1405-}-, and in 1412, he was 1405.
Knight of the Shire for Cumberland.
This Branch became exunct
in the Reign of Edward IV. about the Year 1402. 1462.
D

* Rymer's Fxrlera, vol. v ill. p. 59.

f Ibid, p. 384.
f 14 |
A, D. De Vaux, Lord of Hayton. A Cadet of Gillefland, was in Exift-
1100. ence in i 100, and is called Coufin to Hubertus, of Gillefland*. .

Sir Roger de Vaux, of Afkerton and Whitehill, defcended from


Gillefland, and lived in the 12th Century. He had a Son, named
William-]-.

Vaux of Caterlen. This Branch came from a younger Son of the


Houfe of Gillefland, and poffeffed this Barony for manv Generations.
Rowland Vaux, was Reprefentative for the City of Carlifle, in the
1453. Parliament of the 31ft of Henry VI. A. D. 1453. The Arms of
the Family, viz. Or and Gules, between three
Or, a fefs Cheeky,
Garbes Gules banded Or, were carved upon the Gate at Caterlen Hall,
furrounded with the following Legend in old Characters,
" Let Mercy and Faithfulnefs never goy from "
thee.

And Underneath,
" At this time is Rowland Vaux Lord jof this Place, and builded this

1577. " Houfe in the Year of God, 1577.

This Family ended in an Heir Female, who married into that of


Richmond, and having no Children, left the Eftate to Curwen of
Workington^.

Vaux of Brownrig, in the Pari/h of Caldbeck. The laft of this


Branch, ( who fhewed good Proof that he was defcended from
1747. Hubert, 1 ft Lord of Gillefland, ) died in 1747, and the following
Infcription was engraved on his Tomb,
" Here lieth the Body of Robert Vaux, the 14th of that Name,
" and of the Family of Erownrig, who died the 21ft of May 1747*
" aged 69 Years. -

* Hutchinfon's Hift. of Cumb. vol. i. p. 152. Private MSS.


f Ibid. p. 99. Ibid.

* Ibid, p 345.

Ibid. vol. ii. p. 381.


t <5 J

NORTHAMPTONSHIRE BRANCH.
V,AUX, Lord of Harwedon. It appears that this Branch defcended A. D.
from Robert fecond Lord of Gillefland, and fettled in the County of
Northampton, before the Year 1 200. In the Time of the (harp Con- 1200.
teft between the Houfes of York and Lancafter, William de Vaux was
a firm Friend to the Lancaftrians, and on that Account he loft: all his
Eitates, when Edward the IV. obtained the Crown in 146 1. He was 1461.
afterwards killed ot Tewkcfbury, on the 4th of May, 1 47 1
, and his 1471.
Sifter Dame Catarine Vaus was taken Prifoner, her Hufband Courtney
Earl of Devonfbire having been flain*.

His Son Nicholas, however, on the Acceffion of Henry VII. in

1485, not only recovered all his Eftates, but was highly in that Prin- 1485.
ce's Favor, and a principal Perfon at the Solemnity of Prince Arthur's

Marriage, where he appeared with much Magnificence. King Henry


VIII. alfo made him Governor of the Caftle of Guifnes, previous to
his famous Interview, with the French King, fent him as one of his
AmbafTadors to confirm the Peace, and at length made him a Knight
of the Garter, and advanced him to the Peerage by the Title of Lord
Vaux of Harwedon. TheGrandfon of this Man, and thirdLord, was the 1533.
Poet celebrated in Walpole's Royal and Noble Authors. The Peerage
remained in the Family till the year 66 when Edward Lord Vaux died
1 1
, 1661.
without lawful IfTue. When Charles I. was Prifoner at Holmby Houfe,
he came fometimes under a proper Guard to this Lord's H.mfe, where
there was a Bowling Green, a Diverfion of which he was very fond-}-.

The Armorial Bearing of this Branch was Cheeky, Argsnt and Gules
no a Chevron Azure, three Rofes Or, feeded Proper^.
* Leland's. Colleftanen, vol. ii. p. 606. Stovv's Chronicle, p. 424.

t Rapin's A&a Regina, p. 707. Dugdale's Baronage, vol. i. p. 52$. Article Vaux.
Stow's Chronicle, p. 484 ani 508.

I Gentleman's Magazine, vol. i. for 1793. p. 517.


[ 16 ]

CASTLE SOWERBY BRANCH.


A. D. JLVANULPH de Vallibus, next Brother to Hubertus, iff Lord of
Gilleiland, had from Ranulph de Mefchines the Manors of Caitle
Sowerby, Carlatton and Hubbertby*.

It is probable that this Ranulph de Vallibus died without Iflue, lor

it appears that Robertus de Vallibus, of Gillefland, afterwards gave


Carlatton tothe Abbey of Lanercoft-j-. It is likewife known that Caftle

1242. Sowerby became the Property of AlexanderKing of Scotland, in 1242,$.

* Dugdale's Baronage. Hutchin bn's Hift. of Cumb. vol. i.


p 48.

f Hutchinson's Hiftory of Cumberland, vol. i. p. 183.

Ibid. p. 22.
J

NORFOLK BRANCH.
R
,?efland,
.OBERTUS de Vallibus, youngeft Brother to Hubertus of Gil*
obtained from Ranulph de Mefchines, the Barony of Dalit ,n,

in Cumberland, but it appears that he fettled in the County of Norfolk,


where he was Lord ol Bever*.

There feems to be little Doubt, that the fir ft FofitfTons which the
Family of De Vallibus had in England, were in Norfolk, for 111 an old
Pedigree, in the Chapel of Naworth Caftle, the Baronial Uouit of
Gillcfland, Hubertus, the firft Norman PofTefTor of that Baror.y is

called Hubertus de Vallibus, of the County of Korfolk-f-, and in the


Monafticon AnglicariumJ, there is the following Paflage, Primus

* Dugdale. Leland's Collect. Monaft. Anglic. Hi ft. of Cumberland.

f Hutchinfon's Hiftory of Cumberland, vol. i. p. 136.

I Monafticon Anglicanum, vol. ii. p. 19. Arucle Pentney.


Fun J aror Priuratus d<. Pentney .n Aerr Norfo'cience ,fuit Pob-rtus A. P.
fa , ..uihui, qm vcmt cum Vv ilhelmo Dute iSoruiannuiuin in

Robtrrus de Vallibus, Baron of Dalfton, and Lord of Bever, founded


the Priory of Pentney, in Norfolk. He likewife gave confidcrahle
Donations to the Monks of Caftleaere, in the fame County. His Wife's
Name was Agnes, and he left three Sons, William, Oliver and Henn
William, the fecond Patron of Pentney, had alio three Sons, Robert,
Adam, and William, Prior of Pentney.

Robert, the eldeft Son of the preceding, fucceeded, and had feven
Sons, Robert, William, Oliver, John, Phillip, Roger and Hugh;
of thofe Robert and William died without Iffue, and the Eftates
delcended to

Oliver de Vaux, who was the fifth Patron of Pentney. In the 1 3th, 1212.
year of King John, he gave 500 Marks ana five Palfreys for a Licence
to marry Petronilla, Widow of Henry de Mara, which Petroniila was
firft Wife to William de Longcbamp. She died in the 46th Year or the 1262.
Reign of Henry III. Oijver dc Vaux was one of the great Barons, who
in 1 2, 1
5, joined ag'ainftKing John, in requiring the Renewal of the 1215.
Charter of Privileges, granted by Henry I. and the Revival of certain /

Laws of Edward the Confefibr. The Year after he was excommuni- 1216.
cated by the Pope, at the In (ligation of King John, who feized upon
his Eftates. They were reftored to him by Henry 1 1 1, and in the 29th
year of that King's Reign, when an Aid was levied for the Marriage 1245*
of his eldeft Daughter, Oliver de Vaux accounted lor thirty-two
Knights' Fees and a half*.

Robert his eldeft Son, who fucceeded him, and was the fixth Patron
of Pentney, was followed by his Brother.

* Dugdale'i Baron. Matt. Paris, p. 176 and 192. Ridpath'i Border Hift. p. 923.
[ ,8 ]

A. D. William the feventh Patron, who having married Alianore, thft


Daughter of William de Ferrers, Earl of Derby, one of the Heirs
of William Marfhall, Earl of Pembroke, without the King's Permif-
fion, was fined for that Tranfgreffion*. Having no Iffue, he was
fucceeded by his Brother,

John de Vaux, or de Vallibus, who was the eighth Patron of Pentney,


ahd who gave his Lordfhip of Botendone Nuns of Catefby,
to the
I26o. in Northampton(hire-f-. In 1260, he was fummoned as one of the
Barons of England, to attend Henry III. in his War againftLlewellin,
1263. Prince of WalesJ. In 1263, he and other Nobles, who are called
Magnates Anglias, came Agreement with Prince Edward, Son
to an

1264. to Henry Iil. In January 1264, he is mentioned as one of the great


Barons prefent when Henry III. agreed to make theKingof FranceMe-
diator between him and his Nobles||. In the fame Year he accompanied

the King to France, and was madeConftable of theCaftle of Norwich^.


1265. In 1265, he was Sheriff of the Counties of Norfolk and Suffolk**.

1274. In 1 274, he was fent as Envoy Plenipotentiary, by Edward I. to the

Council General of the Church, called by Pope Gregory X. at Lyons,


and in the Commiffion he is ftiled Nobilis Vir et Fidelis Nofter-j-f*.

X276. In the Years 1276, 82 and 83, he was fummoned as a Baron to the
Wars in Wales^J.

* Dugdale's Baronage.

} Monafticon Anglicanum, vol. ii. p. 897.

J Rymer's Fsdera, vol. 1. p. 707.

Ibid. p. 773.

|| Ibid. p. 776. ^f Ibid. p. 776 and 79a.

** Dugdale's Baronage, Art'cle Vaux.

J~j*
Rymer's Fsedera, vol. ii. p. 23.

XI ibid. p. 74. 1 90. 199 and 2*8.


t 19 )

In 1283, he was appointed High Steward of Aquitaine, with a 1283.


Salary of Two Thoufand Pounds per Annum*.

In (284, mention made of him in a Letter from Edmund of Lan-


is

Cafter, to his Brother Edward I. dated from Paris-j-.

John deVaux died in 1288, the 6th Year of the Reign of Edward I. 1288.
1

By his Wife Sy bill, he left two Daughters, between whomhisva't Pofief-


fions, amounting to no lefs than Forty-fourKnights' Fees, were divided.

Petronilla, theeldeft, married William de Nerford, whofc Heirefs


afterwards married into the Family of Dacres.

Maud, the fecond Daughter, became the Wife of William de Ros,


Anceflor to the prefent Duke of R-utland^.

John de Vaux bore for his Arms, Argent, an Efcutcheon between


Eight Martlets Gules, (hewing that he was the fourth bon.

* Dugdale's Baronage.

} Rymer's Ftedera, vol. ii. p. 1087.

\ Dugdale's Baronage.

^ Sphere of Gentry, by Silvanus Morgan, p. 64.

NOTE.
There isReafon to believe that the Name of Vaux ftill exifted in Norfolk after the
Branch of Bever and Pentney ended in Females, for it is mentioned in Rymer's Fsedera,
vol. iv. page 135, that a Johan. de Vaux, of the County of Norfolk, was fummoned
among the Great Men of the Kingdom, by Edward II. to meet him at Portfmouth in
order to proceed to the Wars in Giiienne the 20th of February, 1325. Ridpath's I order 13 2 5
Hiftory, and the Fjedera notice, that there were Judges of the Name of Vaux in 1305 '35
and 1409. Blome in his Britannia fays, that there lived in Bedfordshire, in l&73j * 1409.
John Vaux, of Whipfnead, Ef<j. pofielTed of a good Eftate. lt>73>
i R h

SCOTTISH BRANCH.
Ir is agreed by all Antiquarians, and is in particularly afTerted by A. D.
Sir James Dalrymple*, that the Names of Valz, Vaulz, Vaffe, Vaule,

Vaus, Vans or Wans, are all originally the fame, only varied by the
Corruption of Provincial Dialects, and that they correfpond with thole
of De Baux or De Vaux in French, and of Del Balzo or Del Vallu in
Italian. All thole Names having been uniformly tranflated De Valli-

bus in Latin.

The nrft mention made of thisName in Scotland, as far as has cometo


theKnowledgeof the Writer of tbisAccount, is by Hector Bosthi us, who
fays, that the Par titans of Edgar Atheli ng, outlawed by William the Con-
queror, took Refuge in Scotland in the Year 1073, where they had Lands 1073.
granted to them. Among thefe we find the Names of Lindefay, Vaux,
&c. This Anecdote is repeated by Andrews in his Hiftory of England,
who quotes the Authorities of Verftegan and Scott-f-, and in a Hiftory
of Scotland, by R. Heron, it is mentioned, that not only the Englidi
Subjects but the Norman Barons wen; di faceted to the Government
of William and of his Son, and that many both of the one and of the
other continued to feek their Safety in Scotland with King Malcolm,
who received them kindly, affigning them Pofleffions in his Kingdom,
and retaining them in Places of Honour about his Court J. Rapfii
and Hume in their Hiftories, notice the fame Thing; and in the Hariri in

Mifcellany, after fpeaking of Troubles which took place in theRti^a


F

* Appenlix to the Colle&ions relative to Scots Hiftory.

f AnJrews's Hiftory of England, vol. i. part ift. p. 102.

I Hiftory of Scotland, by R.. Heron, vol. i. book ad. p. ^47.


f 1

A. D. of William, the following PafTage is to be found* : " Out of thole


" Confuficns in England, Malcolm, King of Scotland, did take his
" Opportunity for Action. He received into Protection many from
* England, who, either for fear or for Difcontentment, iorfook their
' Country; of whom many Families in Scotland are defcended,. and
* namely thefe, Lindefay, Vaus, Ramfay, Lovell, Towbfis, Sand
Hands, Eiflet, Sowlis, Wardlow, Maxwell," &c.

Nifbet in his Syftem of Heraldry fays, that the firft of the Family
came into Scotland in the Reign of David I, who mounted the Throne
in 1125, and died in 1
1 53"h-

The next Mention of the Name is in Scalae Chronica, preferved in


the Collectanea of LelandJ, where it is laid,

" That the Nobilis of Scotland came no nearer than Pembles, yn


*'
Scotland, to meet with their King William on his Return from his
H74. " Captivity in England, Anno Domini 174, wherefore he toke with 1

*
hym many of the youngger Sunnes of the Nobylmen of England,
" that bare hym good wyll, and gave them Landes in Scotland of them
' that were Rtbelles to hym. Thefe were the Names of thofe he toke
'* with hym, Balliol, Breufe,
Montgomery, Vaulz, Colville," &c.

Sir David Dalrymple, ( Lord Hailes ) in his Annals of Scotland,


feems to give little Credit to the Testimony of Boaatiusj but the other.
Relations mentioned tend to corroborate his Account, and as it appears
from the Faedera, that a Johannes de Vaulz, was one of theHoil-
1 174. ages for the Ranfom of William of Scotland, in 1
1
74; it muft be con-

* Scle&ion from the Harleian Mifcellany, p. 17. Printed by Kearfley, in 179J.

f Nifbet's Heraldry, vol. ii. Appendix p. 250.

} Colledtanea of Leland, vol. i. p. 553.

Rymer's Fsdera, vol. i. p. 40,


t 23 ]

eluded that the Family had been fettled for foire Time in Scotland, elfe A. t).

One of the Name could not have rifen to fuch Eminence, as to be

Claflcd among the great Men of the Kingdom, and to be chofen an


Hoftage on fuch an. Occafion. y

To all may be added, that not only


this Tradition, but all An
the
tiquarians who have mentioned the Name, agree that the Family came
originally into Scotland from England, and that it is highly probable,
it was about theTime fixt upon byNifbet; for during feveral Years before
and after that Period, Cumberland belonged to the Crown of Scotland.

The laft Proof which need be adduced, that the Family of De Vaux
or De Vallibus, in England, and that of Vaux, Vans, Vans, or De
Vallibus of Scotland are the fame, is the Similarity of their Armorial
Bearings, for, in Times when Arms were borne with great Precifion,
and with tenacious Regard to Right and Confanguinity, we find De
Vaux Baron of Gillefland, in Cumberland, bearing Argent, a Bend
Cheeky Or, and Gules, and de Vaux or Vans Lord of Dirletown, in
Scotland, bearing the fame Arms excepting that the Bend wasG ules only*.

Having thus fome Proofs of the general Antiquity of the


ftated

Name, and of the Connection between the De Vaux of England and


thofe of Scotland, wefhall proceed to give a brief genealogical Account
of the Family fince its Introduction into Scotland. In the Courfe of
this Account we fhall quote ourAuthority/or every Thing we advance;
but our principal Guide, previous to the Year 1450, mu(t be a Ma-
nufcript Hiftory cf the Family, found in the Charter Cheft of Barn-
barrow about twenty Years ago. This Manufcript is without Signature
or Date, but from the Penmanfhip appears to have been written about
the Year 1 600, and relates no Circumftance of a later Period than 1 570.
Abfolute Proof of its Authenticity can not be given, but almolt ail the

* Gentleman's Magazine, vol. i. for 1793. p. 517.


j H ]

A. D. Circumftances are confirmed by other 1 eftimonies, and as it was written


nearer the 'Timej U tnaj, beluppoled, that tie rkuwior hud better V.'eai>$

of Information than vve can now have. Befidts in his Preface he declare*

that he has related nothing which was not vouched b\ Public Records,
or by Documents, which he had fcen in the Archives either of the
Vans or of the Cafiilis Families.

This Manufcript in the following Account will be quoted undtr the


Title of the Family MSS.

FIRST DE VAUX OR DE VALLIBUS, IN SCOTLAND.


it

HE before mentioned Manufcript fays, that a De Vallibus, Pro-


ne pos to De Vallibus of Lanercoft, in Cumberland, fettled in Scot-
1130. land foon after the Year 1 130. It does not appear that any of the
Cumberland Family was ever defigned of Lanercoft, but probably
either Hubertus de Vallibus of Gillefland, who was Proprietor of
Lanercoft, or Robertus his Son, who founded the Abbey there, was
here meant, and Nifbet agrees in thinking that the Family came into
Scotland about the Time mentioned*.
Third Generation.
Philip de Vallibus, Grandfon of the Preceding, had great PofTef-
Il6o. lions upon the Bolder about the Year 1 160-b.
t

Fourth Generation
Johannes de Vallibus, his Son by K. Comyn, fucceeded to him, and
was pcfTeffed of the Barony of Dirletown, in Eaft Lothian J. 1 hi: 18

1 174. the Man who was Hoftage for the Uanfom of King William* in 1 i
y
4t

* Nifbet's Syftem of Heraldry, vol. ii. Appendix p. 2JO.

t Nifbet and Family MSS.


* Family MSS.
Rymer's Faedera, vol. i. p. 40. alio Family MSS.
f H ]

Fifth Generation. . f\

i Johannes de Vallibus, Dominus de Dirletown, Son to the preceding A. &,


by his VVite M. de Sancto Claro, is mentioned as one of the Magnates
of Scotland, in the Pope's Ratification of the Peace, between Henry
111. of England, and Alexander II. of Scotland, in 1244*. J 2 44

He gave In pure and perpetual Alms to the Epifcopal See of Glafgow

Ten Marks out of his Lands of Golyn, by Deed dated at Edinburgh,


the 18th of April 1249, which was confirmed by. King Alexander III. 1249c,
on the 4th of June, in the 29th Year of his Reign-}-.

He was one of theCounfellors appointed by Alexander of Scotland,


for the Government Kingdom, at Roxburgh the 20th of Sept.
of his

1255, at the Inftance of Henry -III. cf England^; and we find him 1255.
afterwards with the Englifh King at the Siege of Northampton, in
1264, along with Johannes de Comyn, Johannes de Baho), Dounnus 1264.
Galavidiae, Robertus de Brus, and other Scots.

Sixth Generation.
Alexander de Vallibus his Son, who is defigned Filius Johannis de
Vallibus, exchanges the Annuity granted by his Father, out of the
Lands of Golyn, for the fame Sum out of his Miln at Haddington.
The Deed bears date at Glafgow the third of February, 12671). He 1267.
Was followed by his Son

Seventh Generation.
Johannes de Vallibus, Dominus de Dirletown, who was one of the
G

* Matthew Paris, p 437.

f Chattulary of Glafgow, in the Advocate'* Library at Edinburgh Nifbet and Family MSS
Rymer's Fxdera, vol. i p. 669.

Matthew Paris, p. 669.

||
Chartulary of Glafgow. Nifbet and Family MSS.
[ * ]

A. D. Barons who figns the Letter from the Great Men of Scotland, dated
1289. at Briggeham, in April 1289, to Edward I. of England, propofing a
Marriage betwixt his Son and Margaret of Norway, Queen of Scotland*.
1292. InJune 1292, he fwore Fealty to Edward I. at Berwick, along with
Henry Prior of Coldingham, and about the fame Time Rolland Lord
of Galloway, and othsr great Men of Scotland, fubmitted to the Eng-
lilh Kin^f.

I298, In the Year 1298, he obftinately defended his Caftle of Dirletowri,


againft Anthony Beck, Bifhop of DurhamJ. At this Siege in the be-

ginning of July, the Englilh Soldiers would have died of Hunger, had
it not been for the Peas growing in the Fields about the Caftle, which
were at that time Ripe. A Truce was afterwards concluded here.

l 33"4- 33"4' Johannes fubmitted a fecond time to Edward of England,


^n I

at Strathrode, along with Comyn of Kilbride||.

1305. In February 1305, he confirmed the Gift of his Grandfather to the


See of Glafgow^f.

The Sincerity of his fecond Submiffion to the Englifh King feems


1306. to have been very doubtful, for in 1306 there is mention ot him as
one of the fuppofed Friends of Robert Bruce, and an Order is givvn

by Edward I. to Aymer de Valence, that as foon as Johannes de Vaus,


and Alexander de Seton, (hall be returned from a Voyage towards the
Iflands, on which they were with Johannes de Moubray, he liiall ieize

* Rymer's Fadera, vol. ii. p. 472.

f
Ibid. p. 567.

J Sir David Dalrymple's Annals of Scotland, p. 456. and Family MSS.

Andrews' Hiftory of England, vol i. part ift. p. 321,

|| Dalrymple's Annals, and Family MSS.

^f Cuartulary of Glafgow. ftifbet and Family MSS.


;
[2/ 1

for the King the Caftle of Dirletown, which he fliall provide with A. D,
jfvcry thing necelTary, and give over to Johannes de Kyngtfton, to be
kepr by him till farther Orders. He mall alfo feize all the Lands and
and mall fend the Perfons of Jo-
Valuables belonging to the Cafile,
hannes de Vaus, and Alexander Seton to the King*.

There is however Reafon to believe, that either the Accufation of


Johannes de Vaus being an Adherent of Robert Bruce was ill founded,
or that he found means again to make his Peace with the Englifhj for
we find an Order from Edward I. dated at Lenton, September 13th,

1307, to him and feveral other Scots Barons, to proceed into Galloway, 1307*
and fupprefs fome Commotions occaiioned there by the Partizans of
Bruce-}-.

Johannes was at one time Sheriff' of Edinburgh, and married his


Daughter Etham William de Maulia, of Panmure, one of tae
to Sir
great Barons of Scotland^. He was fucceeded by his Son.
Eighth Generation.
Thomas, who married Margaret Logan. The Author of the Family
MSS. fays, that he could difcover nothing with regard to this Man,
but that he was a diltinguifhed Warrior. His Name is mentioned by
Guthrie, in the Array of the Scotch Army at the Battle of Halidon Hill,
in 1333, and the fame Author fays, that Sir Thomas Vaus was one '333.
of the Perfons of Diftin&ion killed at the Battle of Durham, in 1346. i.i+6.
Having had no Children his Eftates pafled to his Nephew,
Ninth Generation.
Willielmus de Vallibus, who married Catherine Douglas, and lived
to a very great Age. Thii Willielmus is mentioned as one 01 the

* Rymer's FsJera, vol. ii. p. 1013.

f
Ibid. vol. iii. p. 14.

I Nifbet, vol. ii. part 3d. p. 50. Alfo CraufordV Peerage, p. 389.
[ 28 1

Scots Prifoners taken at the Battle of Durham, and an Order, dated


1346. December 8th 1346, is given to Thomas de Rokeby, Senior, to bring
him and David de Anand, to the Tower of I ondon*, and by fubie-
quent Orders, it appears that he continued a Prifoner there till Auguft
1347. 1347"K and was then transferred to Nottingham Caftle, where he was
1354. in December of the fame YearJ. In 1354, his Daughter or Sifter
Maria de Vans, was married to Thomas de Somerville, Lord of the
Caftle of CarnfwichS.

1359. In Oclober 1 359, he was one of the Scots Barons, who oblige therri-

felves to fend lufficient Hoftages into England for the Ranfom of


David King of Scotiandj|, .and his Name appears in feveral Tranfact-
ions between the two Countries at that 1 ime^[ , and particularly in one,

whereby the Prelates of Scotland oblige themfelves to denounce Eccle-


fiaftical Cenfures, who may infringe the before mentioned
againit. thofe

Agreement about David's Ranfum. The figning WitncfTes, or rather


Sureties, are Patricius Marchiae, Thomas de Anegus Willielmus de

Sotherland, Thomas de Mouref, Jacobus de Lyndefay, Willieimus


de Vaus, David de Graham, Robert us de Erlkyn, Willelmus de
Levyngefton, David de Wemys, Thomas ByfTet, Willielmus dc Ra-
mefay and Rogerus de Kirkpatrick Domicellus**. Willielmus had a
Daughter married to John Lyle, of Duchal, Anceftor to Lord Lylc JJ.

His eldeft Son was Thomas, but he having been killed at the taking

* Rymer's Fsdera, vol. v. p. 534.

f Ibid. vol. v. p. 584.

X Ibid. vol. v. p. 599.

Family MSS. and Stewart's Hiftory of the Stewarts, Appendix p. 436.


"i

J|
Rymer's Faedera, vol. vi. p. 48.

^f Ibid. vol. vi. p. 56, 58, and 6l


** Ibid. vol. vi. p. 62.

II Crauford's Peerage, p 291,


[ 29 ]

of Berwick, in T355*, Willielmus was fucceeded by the Daughter of A. D.


1 nomas who married John Haliburton, Son to Sir Walter Haliburton.
The Arms and Title of Dirletown were affumed by her Hufband, and
the former were borne quarterly by the Lords Haliburtown of Dirle-
town, as long as that Family exhted-j-.

It ended at laft in three Daughters, who married into the Families of


Lord Ruthven, (afterwards Earl of Gowrie,) of Lord Hume, and of
Ker of Fau-Uniide, all of whom quartered the Arms of VausJ.

Tenth Generation.
Johannes Vaus, Vans, or de Vallibus, younger Son to the before
mentioned Willielmus, went into Galloway,
where he married an
Hcirefs, about the Year 1384, and obtained the Lands of Barnbarrow, 1384.
which he held under the Douglas's, who were at that time Lords of
Galloway, and to whom he was allied.

Eleventh Generation.
Robertus his Son fucceeded to him, and married Euphemia Gordon,
by whom he had[|

Twelfth Generation.
Johannes, who married E. Kennedy, and was one of the AmbafTadors
fent byJames II. of Scotland, foon after the Murder of his Father,
to Henry VI. of England. The other AmbafTadors were, Alexander 1437.
Dominus de Gordon, Alexander Dominus de Montgomery, and Ju
hannes Methven Clericus^f.
II

* Ridpath's Porcler Hiftory, p. 341.

Nsf Nifbet, and Family MSS. .


jgg

J [hid. Alfo, Crauford's Peerage*

Ibid.

||
[hid.

% Rymer's Faedera, vol. x. p. 679.


[ 3 1

A. D. Johannes was afterwards employed on feveral Occafions*.

1457. ^' s younger Son Thomas was in April 1457 one of the Ambafladbrs
to England-f-, and was defigned Decanus Glafguenfis et Secretariats

RegiusJ.

'Thirteenth Generation.
Robertus, his eldeft Son fucceeded to him, and got a Charter con~
him the Lands of Barglafs and Barnbarrow, from Willicl-
firming to
1451. mus, Comes de Douglas et Dominus Gahvidias, dated J?n. 26, 1451,
and afterwards ratified by a Charter under the great Seal, Auguft 1 3th.
of the fame Year. Robertus had a younger Son George, who was
Bifhop of Galloway||, and was one of the Confervators of the Peace
between England and Scotland, concluded at Aytoun, September 30th,
1498^. He was a Man of an excellent Character, and when much
advanced in Years, refigned his Bifhopric in favor of Spence,
afterwards Bifhop of Aberdeen**.

Fourteenth Generation.
Blanfe his Son and Succeffor, obtained another Charter of the fame
Lands from James II. dated atKirkudbright, March 8th, 1458. He
Was followed by

Fifthteenth Generation.

* Rymer's Faedera, vol. x. p. 688 and 695.

f*
Ibid. vol. xi. p. 398.

\ Ibid. p. 403. and Lives of the Officers of State.

Charter in PofTtflion of the Family, as are all the other Charters, which will in
future be mentioned.

||
Krith. Nimmos' Hift. of StirlingAiire. Nifbet and Family MSS.

^f Ryr. er\ Faedera, vol. xii. p. 676.

** Eoaihius' Lives of the Bifhops of Aberdeen,


t V )

Patrick Vans bis Son, who married Margaret Kennedy, of the A. D


Family of Cafiilis, and to him and her a conjunct Charter was granted
in the Year 1498. It appears that a Daughter of his was married to
John de Carnegy, of Kinnaird, Anceftor to the Earl of Southefk, who
was killed at the Battle of Flodden Field, in 15 13*.

Sixteenth Generation.
Alexander, his Son and Heir had feveral Charters granted to him in
the Year 1 508, which ftill exiit in the hands of the Family. His
eldefl Son,

Seventeenth Generation.
John, who married Janet Kennedy, of the Family of Caffilis-f%

Alexander, his eldeft Son, married Eupham Dunbar, Daughter to Sir

John Dunbar, ofMochrum, but dying without IfTue Male, theEftates 1535.
went to his Brother,

Eighteenth Generation.
Sir Patrick, who was a Man of much Reputation. Being known to 156c.
poffefs great Power and Influence, he was, during the Civil Wars,
warmly folicited both by QueenMary's and by the adverfe Party. Many
original Letters from Queen Mary, from James her Son, and from
the different Regents, as alfo from other Perfons of Eminence, areflill
extant in the Poffefiion of the Family. He attached himtelf to the
King's Party, and was named of the Privy Council and Exchequer,
and appointed one of the Senators of the College of Juflice^ in 1582. 1582.
In 1587, he was fent AmbafTador to Denmark, where he conducted 1587.
himfeif with much Ability, and on his Return propofed to the King
a Marriage with Anne, the younger Danifh Princefs; for the Eldeft,
by the Intrigues of the Engliih Court, had been married to the Duke
* Cr.mford's Peerage, p. 446. Alfo Family MSS.

f
Writs in Pofli-ffion of the Family, and Nifbet.

\ t-apers in Poffcflion of the Family; alfo Nifbet and the Public Record*;
[ 3* ]
f

A. D. of Brunfwick*. He afterwards attended the King when the Marriage


was folemnized, and upon that Occafion received a Charter of Lands,
and the Patronages of the Churches of Wigton, Kirkinner, Col-
1589. monel, and Kirkowan, dated at Upfal, in Norway, Nov. 30th 1589,
which Charter was confirmed by the Sects Parliament, and in the
Preamble Sir Patrick's great Merit and Services are very honorably
fet forth.

A Narrative of Sir Patrick's EmbafTy, written by himfelf, is ftill in


the Hands of the Family.

King James continued through the Winter in Denmark; but Sir


Patrick was fent home immediately after the Marriage, and was one
of the Members of the Privy Council appointed to manage the Affairs
of the Kingdom, during the Royal Abience. There are three Letters

in the Fadera-f-, from the Lords of Scots Council to Queen Eliza-


beth, of England, promifing to do their utmofl to maintain Peace
and good Order, till the Return of James. The Letters are addrefled to
the Quenis Majeftie of England, dated at Edinburgh, January 2nd
1590. and 3d 1590, and Sir Patrick figns only by the Name of his Eflate.

The Signatures to the firfl Letter are as follows, and in the fol-

lowing Order j

Culrofs, Coldenknois, Ormifton, Arbroath Controller, Digna-


vall,Barnbarr ache, Pettynwem, Lenox, Hamilton, Bothwell,
Thomas Mr Glamis and J. Hay.
Sir Patrick married Katherine Kennedy, Daughter to Gilbert 2nd
Earl of Cafiilis, and was fucceeded by his eldeft Son.

Nineteenth Generation.
Sir Tohn, who was of the Privy Chamber to King James VI. of

* Rapin's Hiftory, vol ii. p. 137. and Melville's Memoirs.

^> Ry mer's I sedera, vol. xvi. p 3 1 and 36.


[ 33 1

Scot' md, and i ft of England, and was in fuch Favor with that Prince, A. IX
th.it he had a grant of a coniiderable Eltate in Ireland, and was ikfigned
of Longcaltie, during his Father's Life time. He married Margaret, l6o8
Daughter to Uchred Mac Dowall, of Garthland, and was followed by

Twentieth Generation.
Sir Patrick his Son, who married GrilTel, Daughter to Johnjohnfton,
of that Ilk, Anceftor to the Marquis of Annandale, by Margaret his
Wife, Daughter to Sir Walter Scott, of Buccleugh, Anccfior to
the prefent Duke. By her he had a Son, John, to whom his Grand-
father Sir John refigns the Fee of the whole Eftate by Deed, dated
January3cth, 1640. The above Sir Patrick, with Confent of his Father,
alio provides his iecond Son Alexander, in the Lands of Berwhannie,
by Charter, dated February 25th, 1640. 1640,

Sir Patrick, was fucceeded by his eldtfl Son John, who diffipated
a great Part of his Fortune, which had been conlidcred as the lar^clt
in the County. He married GnlTel, Daughter to John Mc ( ulloch,
of Myreton, but dving without Ilfue Male, the Eitates deicendca to
his Brother,

Twenty-Jirfl Generation.
Alexander Vans, of Berwhannie. He married Margaret, Daughter to
William Maxwell, or Monreith, and was fucceeded by his eidcit 5on,

Twenty -fecond Generation.


Patrick, who diftinguiihed himfelf in the Spanim Wars, having
been prefent at Almanza, and at all the other Battles of that Time.
He was a Colonel in the Army, and Member of the Britilh Parliamt nt
for the Wigton Diftricl of Burghs. He married firlt Jean, only
Daughter James Campbell,
ot Sir of Lawers, by whom he had a Son,
Patrick, who died childlefs, and a Daughter married to Brown,
of Carileuth.
I
[ 34 ]

A. D. His fecond Wife was Barbara, Daughter to Patrick Mc Douall, of


Freugh, and Aunt to the prefent Earl of Dumfries, by whom he had
two Sons, John his Succeflbr, and Alexander, who died voung; alio three
Daughters, Barbara, married to Clugfton, Phyfician; Anne,
married to Hugh Hathorn, of Cafllewigg; and Margaret, who died
young. The Colonel dying in 1733, was fucceeded by his Son,

twenty 'third Generation.


John Vans, a Gentleman of much Ability and Integrity, whofe
Memory will long be refpected in Wigtonfhire and the neighbouring
Counties, for his Philanthropy, and unwearied Attention to the Agri r
culture and general Improvement of the Country. He married in
I747. 1747, Margaret Agnew, only Daughter of Robert Agnew, of Shuchane,
by Margaret Mc Douall, another Daughter of the Family of Freugh,
Robert Agnew himfelf, being defcended from a younger Son of the
ancient Family of Agnew, of Lochnaw, Bart, formerly hereditary
Sheriffs of Wigtonfhire. In confequence of a mutual Entail, John
Vans and his Pofterity affumed the Name and Arms of Agnew.

He had the following Children, Robina, married to Robert Ken-


nedy, of Pinmore, by whom fhe has Children. Barbara and Margaret,
died unmarried; Robert his Heir, of whom afterwards, Patrick, a
Captain in the Army, who married his firft Coufin Grace Hathorn,
and died in the Year 1784, leaving one Son who is fince dead, John
Agnew, formerly in the civil Service of the Eaft India Company, now
a Banker in London, and Member of Parliament for the Burgh of
Stockbridge, who married Mifs Stevens, Daughter to Colonel Stevens,
of Somerfctfhire, and has one Son, and two Daughters. John Vans
Agnew, died in 1780, and was fucceeded by his eldeft Son,

-Twenty -fourth Generation.


Robert Vans Agnew, the prefent Reprefentative of the Family,
born in April 1755. He married Frances Dunlop, third Daughter
of John Dunlop, of that Ilk, by Frances, his Wife, only Daughter
[ 35 3

and Hetrefs of Sir Thomas Wallace, of Craigie, Bart. TheDuntrips A. D.


have long been confidered among the mod ancient Families in the
County of Ayr, wherein they have been fettled fince the Year 1263.
The Wallaces' irrntrnfa Hi Pi ( 1 1 niliiiilll n f the celebrated Sir William A Oe^-r^c e'fz&c-eravn*

Wallace, Prote&or of Scotland in 1297, are too well known to require -/'ayn^jti, W
firther Notice. By the above Marriage, Robert Vans Agnew has ^ (/
eight Children now living; Five Sons, Robert, John, James, ( while
this was printing James Periflied in the Queen Charlotte burnt near
Leghorn March 17th, in which Ship he was a Midfhipman,) Patrick
and Henry Stewart; and three Daughters, Margaret, Frances and
Maria Anne, all of whom bear the Name of Vans only, except the
eldeft Son, who alTumes in Addition that of Agnew.

The Armorial Bearing of Vans of Barnbarrovv, is Argent, a Bend


Azure. They formerly charged the Bend with a Mollet, intimating
that they were a younger Branch of the Houfe of Dirletown, but as
they now reprcfent the principal Family, they ftrike out the Mollet,
the brotherly Difference, and carry the Bend iimple. The Creft is a
Lion Rampant, holding in his Dexter Paw a Pair of Ballances proper,
and the Motto, Be Faithjid, or more anciently, Soyfz Fidele. The
Supporters, which they have ufed ever fince they represent the prin-
cipal Family, are Two Savages with Clubs in their Hands, and
Wreathed round the Middle with Laurel.

The principal Refidence of the Family is at Barnbarrow, (anciently


Barnbarrache,) four Miles from the Town of Wigton. It was for-
merly an ancient Caftle, from the Wall of which uhen it was de-
molished by the prefent Proprietor, was taken a Stone, upon which
were the Arms as before defcribed, with the Date 1433, and the 1433*
Initials I. V. & E. K. being thofe of John Vans the Proprietor
when it was built, and of Elizabeth Kennedy, his. Wile,
[ 36 1

Mr. Vans Agnew has been Induced to have a few Copies oj the foregoing

Account printed^ in order to gratify the Curiofity of fame Relations, and

in hopes that fome of his learned Acquaintances, to whom he means to (end

Copies, may be able to give him further Information, or at leaf to point

out the Sources jrom which it may be drawn.

N. B. Since the foregoing Account has been in the Prefs, Papers have been difco-

vered in Scotland, which fufficiently eftablifh the Filiation of the Family of Barnbar->

r >w from that of Dirleton; the principal remaining Defideratum therefore is, to be able

to afcertain in a more latisfactory Manner, the Degree of Felationfhip which exifled.

betwixt the fiift De Vaux who fettled in Scotland, and the Family of that Name in

England.

FINIS.

r
* O "'" / s~

/7T--

*.MBRUKt; fRINTfiD BY WILLIAM LDWARDES W1LM0T,

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