Swartbrand - Swartbrand > Ulf > Swartbrand

Started by Clive Kenyon on Wednesday, January 31, 2018
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1/31/2018 at 11:01 AM

Looking at this linage in connection with Ulf Fenisc I cam across an interesting passage on pages 209 - 210 in the following book;
"The English and Their Legacy, 900-1200: Essays in Honour of Ann Williams" (available to browse on Google Books)

It seems that Swartbrand was the father of Ulf who in turn fathered a son named Swartbrand. One researcher has suggested that Ulf is Ulf Fenisc on the basis that five land holdings are identical pre and post TRE. The latter Swartbrand was listed as a King's Thane and in Lincoln as a lawman in 1086 along with his father Ulf. Whilst the former Swartbrand appears as the moneyer on pennies minted in Lincoln in the period of Cnut.

Given this information and taking it into account with that uncovered in the Yorkshire records it seems unlikely that the Ulf who donated his Yorkshire estates to York Cathedral and who's seat of power was Aldbrough in East Yorkshire could be the same man who was part of at least three generations of senior figures in Lincoln.

The York records refer to Ulf as being 'Prince' of West Deira and other records have him as 'Earl' of West Deira. This suggests that his power base was attached to the Northumberland Earls, that is to the north of the Humber. His father is also recorded in several places as being Thorald.

I am now dubious of the lumping together of the Yorkshire holdings with those further south under the same 'Ulf'.

2/2/2018 at 10:34 AM

I have sent a query about this to the PASE feedback e-mail address. There are quite a few references from historians over the years to Ulf Fenisc being identical to Ulf Thoraldsson but I think that they have all missed a trick.

My own view is that Ulf Thoraldsson granted his lands to York Cathedral around 1060 - 1065 and then went off on his pilgrimage never to return. The conquest in 1066 resulted in the lands owned by York Cathedral being re-allocated to William's followers and 20 years later in 1086 when they held the survey the local jurors either mistakenly or unknowingly stated that Ulf had been the owner of the lands in 1066. The persons compiling the information did not have the real Ulf to attribute the lands to so confused him with the other Ulf who was also a large land owner pre conquest.

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