Henry of Brechin

Biography

Henry of Brechin was a natural son of David, Earl of Huntingdon. His date of birth has been roughly estimated as occurring about 1180, based upon the date of his marriage to Juliana, daughter of Ralf of Cornhill, circa July 1205.[1][2]

From Paul, James Balfour. The Scots Peerage : Founded On Wood's Ed. Of Sir Robert Douglas's Peerage Of Scotland; Containing An Historical And Genealogical Account Of The Nobility Of That Kingdom. Free Download, Borrow, And Streaming : Internet Archive. 2020. Internet Archive.>Henry of Brechin, Vol II, pps 214-5. < Archive.Org >

HENRY OF BRECHIN, who was the first who gave name to this family, was a natural son of David, styled Earl of Huntingdon, the younger brother of Malcolm iv. and William the Lion, Kings of Scotland. The date of his birth is not known, but he was old enough to witness a charter by his father between 1201 and 1207,1 along with another natural son of Earl David, Henry of Stirling. hese two appear not infrequently in charters by their father, their half-brother John, Earl of Huntingdon, and others of the period.

He was a witness to his father's will.1 It is not clear when he obtained the designation of Henry of Brechin, but he is so named in a charter probably dated before February 1215, and to which his father and two brothers were witnesses.2 The lordship of Brechin is said to have been granted by King William the Lion to his brother Earl David, who conveyed it to his son Henry. If so, the latter must have received it before the date of the charter cited. He is found as Henry of Brechin, attending the King's Courts held at Forfar in 1225 and 1227.3 Between that and 1242 he appears as Henry of Brechin, son of Earl David, granting, in the name of Juliana, his wife, and William, his son, a charter to the Abbey of LindOres, of which his father was the founder. He bestows on the monastery an annualrent of twenty shillings, desiring that he and his wife should be buried at Lindores, because there they had chosen a place of sepulture, as persons who have been received to the confraternity of the house, and to participation of its prayers and spiritual benefits.4 He was one of the magnates of Scotland who, in 1244, swore to aid Alexander n. to keep the truce or agreement entered into with England in 1237, and he apparently deceased before August of the following year, when his son is in possession.5 His wife's name was Juliana, and she was probably the daughter and heiress of Ralf de Oornhill, whom in July 1205, King John bestowed on him in marriage, with her estates.6 Henry and Juliana had issue, so far as recorded, a son : —

SIR WILLIAM OF BRECHIN, who is first named by his father in the latter's charter to Lindores, already cited.

Coat of arms from the Balliol Roll.

Huntingdon of Brechin.

http://wappenwiki.org/index.php/Balliol_Roll

Genealogy

https://fmg.ac/Projects/MedLands/SCOTLAND.htm#_Toc100815207

Earl David had [three] illegitimate children by Mistresses (1) - (3):

• l) HENRY of Brechin (-[1244/Aug 1245]). "Walkelino filio Stephani, Willo Wacelin Henr et Henrico fil meis…" witnessed the undated charter under which "Comes David frater regis Scotorum" donated "elemosinam totum Kanum et Kuneueth" to St Andrew’s priory[527]. "…duobus Henricis filiis comitis…" subscribed the undated charter under which "Comes David frater regis Scocie" donated "Culsamuel et…Munkegyn" to Lindores Abbey[528]. "Henricus de Brechyn filius comitis Dauid" donated revenue to Lindores Abbey, for the souls of "Juliane sponse mee et Willelmi filii mei", by undated charter, witnessed by "Domino Henrico de Striuelin fratre meo…Willelmo filio meo…"[z529]. He swore to aid King Alexander II to keep the 1237 truce with England in 1244[530]. m JULIANA de Cornhill, daughter of RALPH de Cornhill & his wife ---. "Henricus de Brechyn filius comitis Dauid" donated revenue to Lindores Abbey, for the souls of "Juliane sponse mee et Willelmi filii mei", by undated charter, witnessed by "Domino Henrico de Striuelin fratre meo…Willelmo filio meo…"[531]. The primary source which confirms her parentage has not yet been identified. Henry & his wife had one child:
  • i) WILLIAM de Brechin (-before 10 Dec 1292). "Henricus de Brechyn filius comitis Dauid" donated revenue to Lindores Abbey, for the souls of "Juliane sponse mee et Willelmi filii mei", by undated charter, witnessed by "Domino Henrico de Striuelin fratre meo…Willelmo filio meo…"[532]. "Willelmus de Brechine filius domine Henrici de Brechin filii comitis David" founded Messyndew, for the souls of "…domini Henrici patris mei et domine Juliane matris mee", by undated charter[533]. m HELEN Comyn, daughter of ALEXANDER Comyn Earl of Buchan & his wife Elizabeth de Quincy (-after 24 Aug 1302

    ---

References

1. https://fmg.ac/Projects/MedLands/SCOTLAND.htm#_Toc100815207 accessed 21 August 2024
2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brechin Brechin (/ˈbriːxɪn/; Scottish Gaelic: Breichin) is a town and former royal burgh in Angus, Scotland. Traditionally Brechin was described as a city because of its cathedral ....
3. WikiTree contributors, "Henry (Huntingdon) de Huntingdon Lord Brechin (abt.1180-bef.1238)," WikiTree: The Free Family Tree, (https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Huntingdon-100 : accessed 21 August 2024). cites
   1. Nisbit, Alexander. (1816). A system of heraldry, speculative and practical, with the true art of blazon, according to the most approved heralds in Europe: illustrated with suitable examples of armoria figures, and achievements of the most considerable surnames and families in Scotland, together with historical and genealogical memorials relative thereto (Vol. II, pp. 76, 77). Edinburgh: W. Blackwood. Retrieved from Internet Archive (Available online); accessed 8 March 2022.
   2. Richardson, Douglas. (2013). Royal Ancestry: A Study in Colonial and Medieval Families (Vol. 1, p. 238). In Kimball G. Everingham (Ed.). Salt Lake City: Douglas Richardson. Retrieved from a personal copy of Lohbeck-3; accessed 8 March 2022.
   3. Paul, James Balfour. The Scots Peerage : Founded On Wood's Ed. Of Sir Robert Douglas's Peerage Of Scotland; Containing An Historical And Genealogical Account Of The Nobility Of That Kingdom. Free Download, Borrow, And Streaming : Internet Archive. 2020. Internet Archive.>Henry of Brechin, Vol II, pps 214-5. < Archive.Org > Brechin, Lord of Brechin.