William Fenton (abt. 1240 - abt. 1316)

Born about 1240 in Airlie, Angus, Scotland [uncertain]

Ancestors

Descendants

Died about 1316 at about age 76 in Airlie, Angus, Scotland [uncertain]

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Biography

William was born about 1240 son to John Fenton of that Ilk and his wife Mary.

William married circa 1265 to Cecilia Byset (Bisset), eldest daughter of John Byset younger of Aird and Lovat. The Bysets held considerable lands in Angus and thus it may have been on this account that the marriage was formed. John Byset died in 1260 leaving his son, John, and three daughters. The youth, John Byset, died without issue before 1268 leaving the expansive Byset estate divided between his three sisters. Cecilia as the eldest brought in marriage the title of Beaufort and a third part of all the various and widespread Bisset holdings in Scotland, Ireland and England.

The Fentons would have moved around their estates to oversee their management. It is reputed that they lived in Beaufort Castle near Beauly and in the castle of Baikie in the parish of Airlie in Angus. Baikie Castle was located on an island near the shore of a shallow loch now drained.

Sir William Fenton of that Ilk and Baikie married Cecilia Bisset about 1265.

Sir William Fenton and Cecilia had issue:

• John

At Westminster, London on 27 Oct 1278, Cecilia eldest daughter, and one of the heirs of John Biset junior deceased, appointed her husband William de Fenton to receive in the English King's court her purparty of her father’s lands in Ireland. Elizabeth, another daughter, appointed Andrew de Bosco her husband to same effect. Mulrella, the youngest daughter appointed David de Graham her husband to same effect. ^[1] Cecilia brought with her a third share of the lands and being eldest daughter, the Castle and title of Beaufort in the Aird.

On 10 Aug 1279 William de Fenton and Cecilia his wife, Andrew de Bosco and Elizabeth his wife, and David de Graham and Muriel his wife; those ladies being the daughters and of age were found to be the nearest heirs to the deceased John Bisset. ^[2] Cecilia inherited the title of Beaufort.

At Westminster on 27 Oct 1279 King Edward I notified his bailiffs and subjects in Ireland, that Cecilia wife of William Fenton had attorned before the king William her husband and David Graham, in all pleas and plaints in Irish courts. Edward granted at the instance of Cecilia that William and David may make attorneys for Cecilia in the King's Chancery of Ireland. 'To endure for 2 years unless Cecilia shall in the meanwhile go to Ireland. Similar letters for Muriel wife of David Graham, under the names of David her husband and William Fenton. Similar letters for Elizabeth wife of Andrew de Bosco, under the names of Andrew her husband, and William Fenton.^[3]

Around 1279, William de Fenton, as Lord of Beaufort in right of his wife, had taken possession of a half-davoch of church land in Kiltarlity which was claimed by the Bishop of Moray. The dispute was so strongly contended that it was raised before Pope Nicholas III who remitted it to the Abbot of Deer. Subsequently, on 26 September 1279, the Bishop of Moray was inducted into corporal possession of this half-davoch of land as belonging to the church of Kiltarlity. By the authority of the Apostolic See, William de Fenton was commanded not to interfere with the bishop regarding this land. Clearly William ignored this instruction for on 26 March 1280, notice was served on William and Cecilia at Beaufort Castle that they would be suspended from entering the church if this state continued and, if not obeying the motion by 2 June 1280, they would be excommunicated. William de Fenton and Cecilia held to their opinion and at Perth on 19 August 1280 were denounced as offenders to be shunned by all faithful Christians. ^[4] The censure was obviously so severe that the Lord of Beaufort capitulated, as a deed by the bishop mentions the land recovered from William de Fenton. Eventually, this was settled about 1298 when jointly with David de Graham, William de Fenton received from the Bishop of Moray a grant of the church lands of Kiltarlity with the whole fishing for six merks annual rent. They did fealty to the Bishop of Moray and made homage with an oath.^[5]

The tofts and two acres of land at Gallowflat and rights of net fishing in the River Tay at Inchyra, which his father had gained from John of Inchyra, were granted by Sir Willian to Nicholas Hay as recorded in a charter of about 1290. This was witnessed by Sir Randulph Lesley, Sir John Hay, Sir Robert Hay, Gilbert Hay and William Wallace. ^[6]

When Scotland was left “kingless” following the deaths of Alexander III and his heiress Margaret, the “Maid of Norway” there were initially 13 “Competitors” or claimants for the Crown. In May 1291 a panel of 104 arbiters was constituted to adjudicate between the cases presented by John Balliol and Robert Bruce, Lord of Annandale. Sir William Fenton was on the panel which eventually reported back in 1292 in favour of Balliol.

For his holdings in the south and north of Scotland, Sir William swore fealty to Edward I at Lindores on 23 July 1291 and he is also mentioned as paying homage on 14 March 1296. On 14 September 1296, a writ was issued by the sheriff of Edinburgh to restore his lands. ^{[7] [8] [9]}

His arms are shown on his seal of date circa 1296. The arms are three crescents and the legend is “S’ DOMINI WILELMI DE FENTVN”.

Sometime in the period 1299-1311, Elizabeth Byset the relict of Sir Andrew de Boscho made a grant to William earl of Ross of her barony of Ededower with the castle of Glastulloch, when, besides her own seal on the charter, those of her brother-in-law Sir William de Fenton, and Sir William Hay and the prior of Beauly were appended.

In 1304-5, William de Fenton and his wife, Cecilia came to the English king’s peace after the first war of Scottish Independence and requested remedy of withholding of Cecilia’s heritage that was then in the hands of King Edward. ^[10]

William and his son John were both witnesses to a charter of Patrick Graham, their kinsman, conveying his third part of Altyre to the Priory of Beauly.^[11]

In Angus, Sir William de Fenton’s dealings with the church appear to have been more amicable than in Moray, for he granted about 1310 a charter to the Abbey of Coupar Angus of his whole lands of “Adory in the tenement of Rethy”, this being Auchindory in the barony of Reedie, close to his seat at Baikie. The gift was for the salvation of his soul and of his father, John de Fenton, his mother, Mary, and Lord Malcolm of Kettins and John his brother and all their ancestors. It was witnessed by his eldest son and heir, Sir John Fenton^[12][13] This Charter was confirmed by King Robert I on 17 Oct 1316 suggesting that Sir William was still alive.

Sir William also granted to Coupar Abbey free passage through his lands as a donation in memory of his father. The charter is undated but by deduction is between 1307 and 1317. ^[14] Both these donations to Coupar Abbey were in time confirmed by his heir, Sir John Fenton, in an undated charter that is no later than 1320. ^[15]

Near the close of his life, about 1316, William and his son John were both witnesses to a charter of Patrick Graham, their kinsman, conveying his third part of Altyre to the Priory of Beauly. ^[16] John the son of Christian del Ard was also present being kinsman to both Graham and Fentons through the third Bisset heiress, Elizabeth..

Sir William de Fenton possibly died about 1316 and was survived by his wife Cecilia Byset. In her widowhood, for the salvation of her soul and souls of her ancestors and her successors, she granted to the Valliscaulians in the House of Beauly, all the third part of the land of Altyr that belonged to her by hereditary right. ^[17]

Research Notes

Daughter Alice: Originally Alice de Fenton was attached to this profile as a daughter of William and Cecilia, but no source has yet been discovered that supports that relationship. The Scots Peerage identifies Alice's surname as Fenton but does not name her parents, leaving open the possibility that she came from another branch of the family. If a reliable source is found showing she was a daughter of William and Cecilia, she can be reattached. Stevens-17832 23:05, 11 June 2024 (UTC)

Sources

1. ↑ Calendar of documents relating to Scotland preserved in Her Majesty's Public Record Office, London. Vol.ii 129 see [1]
2. ↑ Calendar of documents relating to Scotland preserved in Her Majesty's Public Record Office, London. Vol.ii 163 see [2]
3. ↑ Calendar of documents, relating to Ireland, preserved in Her Majesty's Public Record Office, London, 1171-1307 item 1501 see [3]
4. ↑ Registrum Episcopatus Moraviensis, e pluribus codicibus consarcinatum circa A.D. MCCCC. Cum continuatione diplomatum recentiorum usque ad A.D. MDCXXIII Chrtr.127 see [4]
5. ↑ Registrum Episcopatus Moraviensis Charter 123 see [5]
6. ↑ NRS RH1/6/20 see [6]
7. ↑ Calendar ii. 124 See [7]
8. ↑ Calendar ii.730 see [8]
9. ↑ Calendar ii. 849 see [9]
10. ↑ Calendar of documents relating to Scotland preserved in Her Majesty's Public Record Office, London. Vol.ii 1728 see [10]
11. ↑ The charters of the Priory of Beauly : with notices of the priories of Pluscardine and Ardchattan and of the family of the founder, John Byset Chrtr IX see [11]
12. ↑ Charters of the Abbey of Coupar Angus Vol.i Chrtr.LXXI
13. ↑ Charter 88 Rental Book of Coupar Angus Vo.i p349 see [12]
14. ↑ Charters of the Abbey of Coupar Angus Vol.i Charter XCI see [13]
15. ↑ Charters of the Abbey of Coupar Angus Chrtr. XCIII see [14]
16. ↑ The charters of the Priory of Beauly, with notices of the priories of Pluscardine and Ardchattan and of the family of the founder, John Byset Chrtr.IX see [15]
17. ↑ The charters of the Priory of Beauly, with notices of the priories of Pluscardine and Ardchattan and of the family of the founder, John Byset Chrtr.VIII see [16]