Hugh de Giffard
Encyclopedia
The first Hugo or Hugh de Giffard (or Jiffard) was an influential feudal baron in Scotland
, and was one of the hostages for the release of King William the Lion in 1174.
It is said that this family came to Britain with William the Conqueror in the person of Walter, Count de Longueville
, nephew of Gunnor (d.c1000), Duchess of Normandy
, the Conqueror's great-grandmother. However Barrow states the family were dependents of de Varenne (or de Warenne) and simply came from Longueville-la-Gifart in Seine Maritime. The East Lothian
village of Gifford
and a nearby stream, Gifford Water, both take their names from this family.
Two of this family appeared in Scotland in the train of Ada de Warenne
, daughter of William de Warenne, 2nd Earl of Surrey
(she married in 1139 Prince Henry (d.1152) son of David I of Scotland
(d.1153): Hugh (1) and William, a cleric, who became "ecclesiastical advisor" to King David I. Hugh (whom Martine calls "an Englishman") obtained lands in East Lothian, where he settled. William perambulated with King David in Perthshire
and was a witness on many important charters, notably the foundation charter of Jedburgh Abbey
and others for Countess Ada. He and Hugh witnessed a charter of King David granting lands at Crail
. From Malcolm IV of Scotland
he obtained lands at Yester (Jhestrith) in the parish of St. Bothans, East Lothian., Hugh appears in further royal charters till after 1189, and appears to have witnessed many of the charters of King William the Lion (ruled 1165–1214), under whom he rose to distinction.
His son and heir was William de Giffard of Yester, who was sent on a mission to England in 1200 and who also witnessed several charters of William, 'The Lion'. In 1244 he was one of the guarantees of a treaty with England, when he must have been a good age.
His son, Hugh de Giffard of Yester (2), was one of the Guardians of Alexander III of Scotland
and his Queen; and one of the Regents of the Kingdom appointed by the Treaty of Roxburgh dated September 20, 1255. According to the practice of those feudal times, he had his own sheriff. This Hugh de Gifford built a castle, or tower house
, at Yester
(half a mile south-east of the present-day Yester House
) on a promontory between the Hopes Water and a little tributary, the Gamuelston Burn. To the north is one side of a high curtain wall with an offset base. Beneath it a stair descends to the subterranean cavern called Bohall or Hobgoblin Hall, (Goblin Ha'), featured in Sir Walter Scott
's Marmion, which Gifford was said to have constructed by magic.
Fordun thus speaks of him in noting his death in 1267: "Hugo Gifford de Yester, moritur cujus castrum vel saltem caveam et dongionem arte demoniacula antiquae relationes fuerunt fabricatas," (vol.ii, p. 105). Anderson states he left three sons:
Burke also gives four daughters, (although it is possible they belong to a later generation) of whom:
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, and was one of the hostages for the release of King William the Lion in 1174.
It is said that this family came to Britain with William the Conqueror in the person of Walter, Count de Longueville
Walter Giffard, 1st Earl of Buckingham
Walter Giffard, Lord of Longueville, 1st Earl of Buckingham was a Norman magnate and one of the few proven Companions of William the Conqueror at the Battle of Hastings in 1066. The caput of his feudal honour was at Crendon, Buckinghamshire....
, nephew of Gunnor (d.c1000), Duchess of Normandy
Normandy
Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
, the Conqueror's great-grandmother. However Barrow states the family were dependents of de Varenne (or de Warenne) and simply came from Longueville-la-Gifart in Seine Maritime. The East Lothian
East Lothian
East Lothian is one of the 32 council areas of Scotland, and a lieutenancy Area. It borders the City of Edinburgh, Scottish Borders and Midlothian. Its administrative centre is Haddington, although its largest town is Musselburgh....
village of Gifford
Gifford, East Lothian
Gifford is a village in the parish of Yester in East Lothian, Scotland. It lies approximately 4 miles south of Haddington and 25 miles east of Edinburgh.-History:...
and a nearby stream, Gifford Water, both take their names from this family.
Two of this family appeared in Scotland in the train of Ada de Warenne
Ada de Warenne
Ada de Warenne was the Anglo-Norman wife of Henry of Scotland, Earl of Northumbria and Earl of Huntingdon. She was the daughter of William de Warenne, 2nd Earl of Surrey by Elizabeth of Vermandois, and a great-granddaughter of Henry I of France...
, daughter of William de Warenne, 2nd Earl of Surrey
William de Warenne, 2nd Earl of Surrey
William de Warenne, 2nd Earl of Surrey was the son of William de Warenne, 1st Earl of Surrey and his first wife Gundred. He is more often referred to as Earl Warenne or Earl of Warenne than as Earl of Surrey....
(she married in 1139 Prince Henry (d.1152) son of David I of Scotland
David I of Scotland
David I or Dabíd mac Maíl Choluim was a 12th-century ruler who was Prince of the Cumbrians and later King of the Scots...
(d.1153): Hugh (1) and William, a cleric, who became "ecclesiastical advisor" to King David I. Hugh (whom Martine calls "an Englishman") obtained lands in East Lothian, where he settled. William perambulated with King David in Perthshire
Perthshire
Perthshire, officially the County of Perth , is a registration county in central Scotland. It extends from Strathmore in the east, to the Pass of Drumochter in the north, Rannoch Moor and Ben Lui in the west, and Aberfoyle in the south...
and was a witness on many important charters, notably the foundation charter of Jedburgh Abbey
Jedburgh Abbey
Jedburgh Abbey, a ruined Augustinian abbey which was founded in the 12th century is situated in the town of Jedburgh, in the Scottish Borders just north of the border with England at Carter Bar...
and others for Countess Ada. He and Hugh witnessed a charter of King David granting lands at Crail
Crail
Crail ; ) is a former royal burgh in the East Neuk of Fife, Scotland.-History:Crail probably dates from at least as far back as the Pictish period, as the place-name includes the Pictish/Brythonic element caer, 'fort', and there is a Dark Age cross-slab preserved in the parish kirk, itself...
. From Malcolm IV of Scotland
Malcolm IV of Scotland
Malcolm IV , nicknamed Virgo, "the Maiden" , King of Scots, was the eldest son of Earl Henry and Ada de Warenne...
he obtained lands at Yester (Jhestrith) in the parish of St. Bothans, East Lothian., Hugh appears in further royal charters till after 1189, and appears to have witnessed many of the charters of King William the Lion (ruled 1165–1214), under whom he rose to distinction.
His son and heir was William de Giffard of Yester, who was sent on a mission to England in 1200 and who also witnessed several charters of William, 'The Lion'. In 1244 he was one of the guarantees of a treaty with England, when he must have been a good age.
His son, Hugh de Giffard of Yester (2), was one of the Guardians of Alexander III of Scotland
Alexander III of Scotland
Alexander III was King of Scots from 1249 to his death.-Life:...
and his Queen; and one of the Regents of the Kingdom appointed by the Treaty of Roxburgh dated September 20, 1255. According to the practice of those feudal times, he had his own sheriff. This Hugh de Gifford built a castle, or tower house
Tower house
A tower house is a particular type of stone structure, built for defensive purposes as well as habitation.-History:Tower houses began to appear in the Middle Ages, especially in mountain or limited access areas, in order to command and defend strategic points with reduced forces...
, at Yester
Yester Castle
Yester Castle is a ruined castle, located south east of the village of Gifford in East Lothian, Scotland. The only remaining structure is the subterranean Goblin Ha' or Hobgoblin Ha' ...
(half a mile south-east of the present-day Yester House
Yester House
Yester House is an early 18th-century mansion near Gifford in East Lothian, Scotland. It was the home of the Hay family, later Marquesses of Tweeddale, from the 15th century until the 1970s. Construction of the present house began in 1699, and continued well into the 18th century in a series of...
) on a promontory between the Hopes Water and a little tributary, the Gamuelston Burn. To the north is one side of a high curtain wall with an offset base. Beneath it a stair descends to the subterranean cavern called Bohall or Hobgoblin Hall, (Goblin Ha'), featured in Sir Walter Scott
Walter Scott
Sir Walter Scott, 1st Baronet was a Scottish historical novelist, playwright, and poet, popular throughout much of the world during his time....
's Marmion, which Gifford was said to have constructed by magic.
Fordun thus speaks of him in noting his death in 1267: "Hugo Gifford de Yester, moritur cujus castrum vel saltem caveam et dongionem arte demoniacula antiquae relationes fuerunt fabricatas," (vol.ii, p. 105). Anderson states he left three sons:
- William de Giffard of Yester
- Hugh (3), ancestor of the Giffards of Sheriffhall.
- James, who, with Hugh (4), swore fealty to King Edward I of EnglandEdward I of EnglandEdward I , also known as Edward Longshanks and the Hammer of the Scots, was King of England from 1272 to 1307. The first son of Henry III, Edward was involved early in the political intrigues of his father's reign, which included an outright rebellion by the English barons...
in 1296.
Burke also gives four daughters, (although it is possible they belong to a later generation) of whom:
- Euphemia, who married Sir Archibald Macdowall, Knt., of Makerstoun, RoxburghshireRoxburghshireRoxburghshire or the County of Roxburgh is a registration county of Scotland. It borders Dumfries to the west, Selkirk to the north-west, and Berwick to the north. To the south-east it borders Cumbria and Northumberland in England.It was named after the Royal Burgh of Roxburgh...
. - Johanna, married Sir Robert Maitland of Thirlestane, to whom she conveyed Lethington. Ancestors of the Earls of LauderdaleEarl of LauderdaleEarl of Lauderdale is a title in the Peerage of Scotland. It was created in 1624 for John Maitland, 2nd Lord Maitland of Thirlestane, Berwickshire. The second Earl was created Duke of Lauderdale but died without male issue when the dukedom became extinct. The earldom passed to his brother Charles,...
- Jonat, who married Adam de Seton, Master-Clerk.