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Sketch of Gene A Log 1800 Vans
Sketch of Gene A Log 1800 Vans
FAMILY OF VAUX,
VANS, OR DE
VALLIBUS. 1800
C
Digitized by the Internet Archive
in 2011 with funding from
National Library of Scotland
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SKETCH OF A
GENEALOGICAL and HISTORICAL
ACCOUNT OF THE
FAMILY O F
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
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*
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.
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.
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
Pope Clement the Seventh, only two Daughters Marie and Alix, the
latter of whom died unmarried.
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
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,
* 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 ]
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 following are the Arms borne by the different Perfons of the Name who wets
at the Conqueft of Jerufalem.
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 ]
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.
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.
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
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
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|.
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
J-
Rymer's Faedera, vol. i. p. 50.
||
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*.
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.
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*. .
And Underneath,
" At this time is Rowland Vaux Lord jof this Place, and builded this
* Ibid, p 345.
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*.
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
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.
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,
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
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 ]
X276. In the Years 1276, 82 and 83, he was fummoned as a Baron to the
Wars in Wales^J.
* Dugdale's Baronage.
Ibid. p. 773.
J~j*
Rymer's Fsedera, vol. ii. p. 23.
John deVaux died in 1288, the 6th Year of the Reign of Edward I. 1288.
1
* Dugdale's Baronage.
\ Dugdale's Baronage.
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.
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-
*
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.
eluded that the Family had been fettled for foire Time in Scotland, elfe A. t).
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*.
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.
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
Fifth Generation. . f\
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
f Chattulary of Glafgow, in the Advocate'* Library at Edinburgh Nifbet and Family MSS
Rymer's Fxdera, vol. i 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.
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.
f
Ibid. p. 567.
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*.
1307, to him and feveral other Scots Barons, to proceed into Galloway, 1307*
and fupprefs fome Commotions occaiioned there by the Partizans of
Bruce-}-.
f
Ibid. vol. iii. p. 14.
I Nifbet, vol. ii. part 3d. p. 50. Alfo CraufordV Peerage, p. 389.
[ 28 1
1359. In Oclober 1 359, he was one of the Scots Barons, who oblige therri-
His eldeft Son was Thomas, but he having been killed at the taking
J|
Rymer's Faedera, vol. vi. p. 48.
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
Ibid.
||
[hid.
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.
f*
Ibid. vol. xi. p. 398.
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.
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%
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
The Signatures to the firfl Letter are as follows, and in the fol-
lowing Order j
Nineteenth Generation.
Sir Tohn, who was of the Privy Chamber to King James VI. of
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,
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.
Mr. Vans Agnew has been Induced to have a few Copies oj the foregoing
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
betwixt the fiift De Vaux who fettled in Scotland, and the Family of that Name in
England.
FINIS.
r
* O "'" / s~
/7T--