Muschamp Chronicles

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Information compiled by:   Muschamp research group

The name de Muscamp appears in the Falaise Roll of Battle Abbey and that suggests that the family first became landholders in England at the time of the Norman Conquest in 1066. Below it states that the name also appears in two other rolls but I have no evidence of that. These rolls are supposedly copies of the original muster roll made after The Battle of Hastings. Following are a series of articles written about the early history of the family.

De Muscamp From Muscamp, Normandy which was held by the de Tillys. This family established itself in the north of England at the time of the conquest. Roger de Muscamp held Wilgebi (Willoughby) in Lincoln in 1086 (Domesday) and Robert de Muscam, his son, was seneschal to Gilbert de Gand. The latter (Robert) had issue Robert whose son Hugh was a benefactor of Nostel priory in the time of Henry I. This Hugh appears in Liber Niger as a landowner in York and Lincoln and gave his name to Muscam in Nottinghamshire. A very important part of the family is settled in Northumberland, where Reginald is mentioned in 1130. Robert de Muscamp, perhaps his brother, received from Henry I a barony of four knights fees in Bambroughshire, and Wooler was the head of his honour. We now know that this Robert was the brother of the above mentioned Hugh and Reginald is his son.  Along with the barony, Robert was granted the coat of arms ....or, three bars gules. One of the first granted by a British Monarch. His son Thomas joined Prince Henry's rebellion in 1172; he married Maud de Vesci, the daughter of the Lord of Alnwick, whose grandson (Thomas') another Robert, was considered the greatest baron in the north of England. He died in 1249 leaving three daughters as co-heiresses. From this family (Roger's) sprang the Lords Willoughby of Eresby, so renowned in the French wars, and the lords Middleton, Willoughby of Broke and Willoughby of Parham. The name appears on the rolls of Brompton and Duchesne. The Robert who received the Barony was the grandson of the seneschal to Gilbert de Gand. Gilbert was granted huge holdings after the conquest. I know that Gilbert's grandson Stephen led an army into the North to put down a rebellion, about the time that Robert received the barony. Possibly Robert was seneschal to Stephen de Gand and in actual fact led the army. The Lords Willoughby obviously descended from the family that stayed in Willoughby, Lincolnshire.

Above we see mention of Muscam in Normandy being held by the de Tilly family. I present the following to add to it.

Raoul de Tilly. Tilly is near Caen, where was located the castle and barony of which the lords of this name were castellans and was one of the most illustrious families in Normandy. Haymon de Telleia occurs in Normandy in 960. The castle was held in fee in 1165 by Henry de Tilly. Ralph de Tilly held lands in 1083 (Domesday) and his descendants continued to the time of Richard, Coer de Lion, when they were seated at Wonford. At the time of the conquest Muscamp in Normandy was held by a branch of this family.

MUSCHAMPS OF BARMOOR

STEPHEN: Son of Thomas, son of Cicely, daughter of Robert first Baron Muschamp of Wooler was with his brother William a witness to a grant which his father Thomas de Muschans made of twenty pounds a year for the soul of his father and his mother, his own and his parents and for the souls of his wife and son and daughter.

WILLIAM DE MUSCHAMP: Confirmed to St Cuthbert of Holy Island, and the monks there and tofts, crofts and four acres of lands in Barmoor, besides 40 cartloads of peats which his father Stephen de Muschamp gave with his body to the same monks; William de Muschamp in the time of Henry III, held Barmoor in a quarter of a knight's fee of Robert de Muschamp, Baron of Wooler, who was buried at Mailros in 1250. In 1267 Sir William de Muschamp, knight, witnessed a bond respected the chapel of Howburn to the church of Holy Island, and in 1274 had a grant of all the moveable goods of John Spornall in Bousden. This issue seems to have been:

Stephen. Who seems to have died without heirs.

William. His successor.

Stephen de Muschans. A knight in 1278. Occurs frequently as a juror in the Jileadings de quo warrants at Newcastle in 1294. When and where, he was summoned to them, how he claimed free warren in Barmoor for which he produced the King's licence dated in 1289. His widow Agnes by a deed without date had a grant of 4 acres of land in Gatherwick near Barmoor.

SIR WILLIAM DE MUSCHAMP, Knight. In Edward II 1309 bound himself in the sum of 40 marks for the marriage of his daughter Margery and was executor to the will of Sir Walter de Bordon, a Northumberland knight in 1312. In 1341 Johanna, widow of Sir William de Muschamp, knight held hereditaments by the gift of Thomas De Muschamp, a third part of Barmoor, which in that year was entailed upon Thomas de Muschamp for his life with remainder to William, son of Thomas de Muschamp and Constance, daughter of John Loker, and their heirs male, with remainder to Robert, brother of the said William. Their issue were:

Thomas de Muschamp.

William de Muschamp. Had to himself and the heirs of his body a grant from his father Sir William de Muschamp, knight of certain lands in Bowsden. Hugh de Muschamp, eldest son of William, son of Sir William de Muschamp in 1313 had a grant to him and his wife Christian from his father of 10 marks a year out of the Manor of Barmoor.

Margaret de Muschamp. For whole marriage with Richard, son and heir of John de Conyers, her father Sir William de Muschamp in the reign of Edward II had an acquittance for 25 marks by Pierce de Kellen and Elizabeth his wife in part payment of 40 marks for that purpose.

SIR THOMAS DE MUSCHAMP. Occurs in a list of Northumberland knights in 1324. Descents for one of the same name occurs in the Harleian M.I. 294 no. 2188 of which we have no extract. In a petition to Edward III he showed that Sir John de Tilburne having been taken prisoner by his enemies in Northumberland and carried off into Scotland, he the said Thomas as his ally become hostage for him for three weeks and that he would render his body within that time or pay 100 marks but though this was done on Tilburne's covenants and oath, these pledges were by him altogether neglected and broken contrary to the order of chivalry, that which all knights and gentleman ought to have kept inviolable, so that by reason whereof there is risen a scandal and infamy to the English nation by the Scots. John de Copland, the celebrated Northumberland knight, gave him a bond for two hundred pounds dated at Barmoor in 1331. On 17th May 1341 Thomas de Musco-Campo had a licence from the crown to build a wall of stone and time to kernelate and strengthen his mansion of Barmoor. Also in the same year Thomas de Musco-Campo, Lord of Barmoor, entailed upon himself an annuity of thirty pounds for his life out of the manor of Middleton near Milford, with the remainder to Robert, his son and heir, male and failing them to his son William and his heir male. In 1348 he witnessed a deed respecting property in Hetherlaw and in 1352 he had a receipt from Prestwick, deputy of Kendel Strother, late Sheriff of Northumberland.

Robert. Is mentioned in the entails of 1341.

William de Muschamp. Next in the entails of 1341 to his brother Robert. William de Muschamp and Constance, his wife, daughter of John de Locker, in remainder of the entails of a third part of Barmoor in 1341. William de Muschamp is returned in the list of fortified residences in Northumberland as proprietor of the tower of Newlands, near Belford in the beginning of the fifteenth century and in the list the tower of Barmoor is put down as the property or residence of John Preston. William de Muschamp died 20 Edward IV 1481 possessed of Barmoor in the Muschamp Barony. William Muschamp Esq. witnessed a deed of Thomas Tisle Esq. respecting Heton and dated in 17 Henry VII a.d. 1502. The latter 2 obviously later William Muschamps.

NOTES: Bamfield Chaffin Esquire of Chettle died at Exeter July 8th 1644 during the civil wars, and was buried in the cathedral there. He married Mary, daughter of William Muschamp, Esq. of Chettle who compounded and paid nine hundred pounds for levying money for the King's forces. He married twice and left issue by his first wife, Elizabeth, third daughter of Sir Thomas Trenchard, a son and successor. Burke.

JOHN DE MUSCHAMP ESQ. Of Barmoor married Isabella daughter of Manners of Etal and had issue. George, son and heir.

GEORGE MUSCHAMP ESQ. Of Barmoor married ......... daughter of Strangewaies and had issue. Edward, son and heir.

EDWARD MUSCHAMP ESQ. Of Barmoor who is Cottoman M.I. drawn up about the year 1522 is described as able to dispense of his father's lands 5 marks by the year, his father being alive and to serve the King with self and servants and he is a true man. Henry VIII understanding that his principal residence was within the limits of the east marches foreanent (?) Scotland, and that he had ever been ready with his body and substance and all his strength to serve the crown truly and faithfully in 1531 granted him a pension of 20 marks a year. In another paper in the same reign he is returned as in the receipt of a pension of £18 10d a year. He occurs as of Barmoor in 1542 in a list of gentlemen of the East Marches, but his tower there at the same date is reported to be in extreme decay and almost ruinous for lack of reparation. He married .................... daughter of Sir Robert Grey of Horton and had issue. 1. Roger, son and heir. 2. George, his successor, second son. 3. A daughter married to Gawin Ord, Esq. of Fenwick.

GEORGE MUSCHAMP ESQ. Of Barmoor was a Justice of Peace for Northumberland and in 1568 held of the crown certain lands in Bowsden and the Villes of Barmoor, Gatherwick and Middleton. His wife was a daughter of Collingwood of Etal and their issue. George son and heir.

GEORGE MUSCHAMP ESQ. Of Barmoor living in 1615. High Sheriff of Northumberland in 1596 and 1600. He married at Berwick June 11th 1583 Elizabeth, daughter of John Selby of Twyzell whom the wills of Sir William Selby of Mote in Kent May 9th 1610 is called my niece, wife of George Muschamp Esq. Their issue was: 1. William, son and heir. 2. Ralph. 3. George. 4. Henry. 5. John, see Muschamp of Brotherlee. 6. Robert, a lieutenent in Major Dan Collingwood's Company and Deputy Governor of Holy Island Castle. Buried at Holy Island March 12th 1677. 7. Thomas. 8. Daniel. 9. Margaret, wife of Henry Collingwood of Etal. 10. Isabel, second daughter.

SIR WILLIAM MUSCHAMP KNIGHT. Married in 1615 to Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Nicholas Gilborne of Charing in Kent, which Lady Elizabeth Muschamp was buried in St Andrews, Holburn, April 20th 1639, when her escrutcheon bore arms of Muschamp and Gilburne quarterly 1 and 4 azure on a chevron or 3 roses gules; 2 and 3 sable, a fess [a horizontal stripe across the middle of a shield; arranged horizontally] between three cinque foils. Sir William Muschamp was knighted at Berwick, May 11th, 1617; admitted a Burgess there, in 1627; High Sheriff of Northumberland in 1623; and in 1627 by letter dated at Barmoor August 17th 1627, at three o'clock a.m. informed the Lord Clifford "that he had received information from the Mayor of Berwick that the Spaniards had landed in Caithness, put the inhabitants to the sword, sunk many ships and advised that the small strength his lordship had toward the sea side might be raised to reassist the enemy on their return and concluded with saying 'in the meantime I shall use all diligence in these parts, and have written to Sir Francis Brandling to the like in Bamburgh March; so not doubting your care in a service of this consequence with my best wishes I remain your assured cousin'". He died December 6th 1631 possessed of Barmoor besides lands at Middleton near Belford, Bowsden, Swilus, Lowick, Loner, Broomhills, Graham's Close and a Burgate in Hidegate, and a tower, there called Burrell's Tower.

His issue was: 1. George, son and heir. 2. William, a year old in 1615. 3. Thomas. 4. Ralph married Isabella, coheir of Allom of Spittle near Tweedmouth and had issue: a Forster Muschamp an apprentice in Newcastle in 1709. Died before 1743. b. Grace. c. Mabel. 5. Margaret. 6. Mary.