The Hissem-Montague Family

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It is claimed that the original name of the Dacre family was D'Acre and derived from a member of the family who served at the siege of Acre. This appears unlikely as that event did not occur until the reign of Richard I. They held lands in the northern marches with Scotland. The Dacre's became possessed of Greystoke and Gillesland baronies, and many other estates in Cumbria and the adjoining counties, which were held by different branches of the family.

William's grandfather, he was born circa 1220 [or as early as 1205]. 'Of' Dacre. Sheriff of Cumberland in 20 Henry III, and later of Yorkshire in 32 Henry III. Also Governor of Carlisle by patent 52 Henry III and of the castles of Scarborough and Pickering in 1247/48. He married unknown. He died circa 1258.

William's father, also known as Randolf/Randolph. He was born in about 1246 [or as early as 1235] in Cumberland. Noted as a "staunch supporter of Henry III in the lifetime of his father." Henry had problems with his Barons throughout his long reign. Ranulph succeeded his father in 1257/8. He was the Sheriff of Cumberland from 1268 to 1270 and of Yorkshire from 1278 to 1280. I also show that he was High Sheriff of Lancashire from 1272 to 1274. Governor of Carlisle.

Arms: Azure, on a cross, five escallops Or.

Sir Ranulph de Dacre, then Sheriff of Lancaster, was witness to a land grant to the church of St. Mary, Lancaster, along with Sir Benedict Gernet and John Gernet of Caton. "By his wife Joane, daughter of Lady Alice de Lucy, he had a son and heir,--William." - from "Selections from the Household Books of the Lord William Howard of Naworth Castle" by William Howard, George Ornsby.

Randolf died on 3 May 1286.

He was born on 12 March 1265/6 in Castle Naworth, Yorkshire, the son of Ranulph and Joan de Lucy. He first married Anne Derwentwater (Derwentwater is a lake in the Lakes district of Cumbria). Next he married Joan Garnet, the daughter and sole heir of Sir Benedict Gernet, the Royal Forester.

He obtained a charter for free warrent of all his demesne lands at Dacre and Halton in about 1303/4 in Cumberland. He joined the expedition of Edward I, the "Hammer of the Scots," in to Scotland the same year. He was also engaged in the wars in Scotland between 1308 and 1311. The family had neither been rich, nor members of the baronage, but the family's fortunes rose with the success and booty gained by William in these wars.

Castle Naworth Formerly a great stronghold of the Lord Wardens of the Marches, Naworth is a romantic, medieval castle set in rugged and historic Border country, some twelve miles north east of Carlisle. Home of the Dacre and Howard families, the current castle dates back to the early 14th century, although there is evidence of an earlier fortification in the middle of the previous century. Naworth was crenellated (fortified) by Ranulph Dacre in 1335, during the reign of Edward III. Subsequently it was extended by the Dacre family who grew increasingly powerful, mainly by the skilful ploy of each generation marrying wealthy, landed heiresses.

Sir William de Dacre was witness to a land grant by Thomas, son and heir of Adam of Little Heysham, to the church of St. Mary, Lancaster. Thomas, son of Adam of Heysham, confirmed his grant, noting that"half an acre of land lies in Stanistone, between theland of the said Prior and the land of Joan de Dacre [Johanne de Dacre], and a rod of land lies at the Clowe, betweenthe land of the said Prior and the land of the said Joan de Dacre . . ." - from "Materials for the History of the Church of Lancaster."

William died shortly before 24 August 1318 [c1319]. He was buried at Prescote, county Lancashire.

They had the following children,
(8) Sir Randolph Baron de Dacre (c1290),the heir,
(8) Edmund de Dacre (c1290), who held the manor of Heysham,
(8) Thomas de Dacre (c1295),
(8) Joan de Dacre (c1295),
(8) Robert de Dacre (c1295),
(8) Elizabeth de Dacre (c1295),
(8) Hugh de Dacre (c1295),
(8) Ralph de Dacre (c1295),

Or Ranulph, Rafe, or even Ralf. The son and heir of Sir William de Dacre. He was born in 1290 at Castle Naworth, Yorkshire, England. He apparently was involved in some manner in the death, that is murder, of Edward II's homosexual lover and favorite, Piers Galveston of Gascony, in 1312. That deed was effected by the Earls of Warwick, Lancaster, Hereford and Arundel. Randolph was pardoned for any part he had taken in the death of Piers Gaveston on 16 October 1313, as were the other conspirators.

He carried off and married Margaret de Multon, Baroness Multon, the daughter of Thomas de Multon, Lord of Gillesland, in 1315 [1317?], becoming the Baron Multon of Gillesland, of Cumberland. Her fortune and position brought him considerable wealth, an increasingly important public role and the title of Lord Dacre. See The Multon Family of Egremont and Gilsland c.1100-1361 for their descent.

Ranulph was 28 years old at his fathers death in 1318. The King took his homage and he had livery of his father's lands and those of his mother on 25 September 1318. He became the Sheriff of Cumberland. In 1321 Ranulf was summoned to Parliament as a Baron, the first Lord Dacre of Gillesland.

He crenellated Naworth Castle in 1335. He died on 20 March 1339. His children were,
(9) Mary Dacre (c1315)
(9) William de Baron Dacre (c1315)
(9) Ralph de Baron Dacre (c1320)
(9) Thomas Dacre (c1320)
(9) Hugh de Baron Dacre (1335)

She married Ralph de Vernon, the Baron of Shipbrook. He was the son of Ralph de Vernon, the Rector of Hanwell. Her daughter, Agatha Vernon, married Hugh de Venables, of Kinderton, Cheshire.

The Baron's first son and heir, the 2nd Baron Dacre of Gillesland. He married Catherine de Nevill, the daughter of Ralph, the 2nd Lord Neville of Raby and Alice de Audley, in about 1352.

An interesting document from William's life: "At Westminster, in a month from Easter, in the 33rd year of the reign of Edward III [1360]. Between William de Dacre, plaintiff and Robert del Helde deforciant of a messuage [withheld a house and property by force from the rightful owner] and twelve acres of land at Ellale [Ellel, just south of Lancaster]. Robert acknowledged the tenement to be the right of William. For this acknowledgement William granted it to him to hold for life, rendering yearly a rose at the feast of the Nativity of St John the Baptist, and performing the services due to the chief lords of the fee. After Robert's death the tenement shall wholly revert to William and his heirs."

He died on 18 July 1361, d.s.p., and was buried at Lanercost Priory, Cumberland.

He succeeded his brother, William, becoming the 3rd Baron Dacre of Gillesland. He died in 1375.

Some sources indicate that he married Catherine Lucy, though this may be confusion with (6) Ranulph's second wife, above. In 1349 and 1350 Thomas de Dacre of Arkholme and Robert II de Neville of Hornby Lancashire appear to have been embroiled in a private war. It was precipitated when Thomas trespassed to hunt in Hornby park. Thomas enlisted the aid of his brother, William, the Baron.

Or Hugo. He was born in about 1335 at Gilsland, Northumberland. He became the 4th Baron Multon of Gillesland upon the death of his brother(s), William, Thomas and Ralph. He married Elizabeth Maxwell on 1 July 1355. She was the daughter of Lord Alexander Maxwell [or Sir John Maxwell of Carlaverock].

Hugh was summoned to Parliament between 1 December 1376 and 20 August 1383. He died on 24 December 1383 and was buried at Lanercost Priory, Cumberland.

The fifth Baron Dacre of Gillesland. He was born before 1357 at Naworth, Cumberland. William was summoned to parliament between 3 March 1384 and 23 November 1403. He married Joan Douglas, the [illegimate] daughter of James, the 2nd Earl of Douglas, and Margaret, or Mary, depending on your sources. He died on 20 July 1399 [or circa 1403].

The sixth Baron Dacre, Lord of Dacre, Multon and Gillesland. He was born on 27 October 1387 at Castle Naworth, Cumberland. He married Phillippa de Neville before 20 July 1399. She was the daughter of Ralph Nevill of Raby, the 1st Earl of Westmoreland, and Margaret de Stafford.

Thomas was summoned to Parliament between 1 December 1412 and 26 May 1455. In the 8th year of the reign of Henry V he was made the Chief Forester of Inglewood Forest in Cumberland. In the 2nd year of the reign of Henry VI he was appointed one of the commissioners to treat for peace with James I of Scotland. He died on 5 January 1458/9 at the age of 70.

He married Elisabeth Bowett, the daughter of Sir William Bowet of Horsford. He had three daughters, Joane, Phillipa and Margaret. Joane married Sir Richard Fiennes. Phillipa married Richard's brother, Robert, but d.s.p. during her father's life. Margaret died young. He predeceased his father.

The 7th Baroness Dacre. She married Sir Richard Fienes, hereditary Keeper of Hurstmonceaux [Herstmonceaux] Castle, and nephew of James Fiennes first lord Say and Sele, Lord High Treasurer of England. By patent of 7 Nov 1458 King Henry VI accepted Richard as Lord Dacre, and by two writs in 1459 and 1482 he was summoned to Parliament as Baron Dacre. In 1473 the King made the final award of the lands of the sixth Baron Dacre between the heir male, (12) Humphrey Dacre, the younger of Joan's two uncles; and the heir general, Richard Fiennes, in right of his wife Joan Dacre. Most of the estates, in Cumberland and Westmorland, went to the heir male with remainder, Holbeach in Lincolnshire and Fishwick and Eccleston in Lancashire, to the heir general, Joane, while the peerage went to Richard Fiennes in right of his wife. The award of 1473 assigning the heir general and her husband precedence of the old barony, over that of the heir male, was a recognition of Joane's accession to the original barony from her father, Sir Thomas. His descendants are called 'Lords Dacre of the South,' or Barons Fiennes Lord Dacre, to distinguish between them and the Baron Dacres Lord Dacre of Gillesland who are called 'Lords Dacre of the North'.

Richard Fiennes was a Yorkist and fought at the battles of 2nd St. Albans, Towton, Barnet and Tewkesbury. His son, Thomas Fiennes, Lord Dacre, fought for Richard III at the battle of Bosworth, but did not suffer forfeiture under Henry VII. Joan died in November 1490.

Ranulph or Ralph. The Baron Dacre of Gillesland. He was born in about 1412 at Naworth, Brampton, Cumberland, England. He was a Lancastrian and fought at the battles of Wakefield, 2nd St. Albans, and Towton. He died on 29 March 1461 at the battle of Towton and later attainted. D.s.p.

The 1st Lord of Gillesland upon his brother's death. He was born in about 1420 at Naworth. He married Mabel [Maud] Parr, the daughter of Sir Thomas Parr of Kendal. Note that Catherine Parr was the sixth and last wife of Henry VIII. When Humphrey's neice, Joane, and her husband, Richard Fiennes, were given the title of Baron of Dacre in 1473 Sir Humphrey was compensated with the title of Baron Dacre of Gillesland with the right of precedence just after Richard.

He was a Lancastrian and fought at the battles of Wakefield, 2nd St. Albans, and Towton. He died on 30 May 1485 [or 1509]. He was attainted.

The 2nd Lord of Gillesland. He was born on 25 November 1467. He had great lineage, but little wealth until he stole away Elizabeth Greystoke, heiress to the Greystoke and Fitzwilliam Baronies, from the custody of the Cliffords of Brougham Castle and married her. She was the daughter of Sir Robert de Greystoke.

Sir Thomas was a Lancasterist and fought on the side of Henry VII at the battle of Bosworth. For his service he was made Warden of the West March, though his rule was said to be administravtively disastrous. He was also made a Knight of the Bath and Knight of the Garter.

In 1513 Thomas played an important role at the battle of Flodden, where the English, under Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey (later second Duke of Norfolk) inflicted a crushing defeat upon the Scottish nation. Thomas Dacre was awarded lands around Lanercost, and with that new wealth was able to extend Castle Naworth. He built the whole of the south and east wings including the 100ft Great Hall, and what is now known as Lord William's Tower. Thomas Dacre was also Warden of The West March for Henry VIII, and provided loyal service to the crown until his death in 1525. Sir Thomas died on 24 October 1525 "on the borders," meaning, I think, in battle with border raiders.

The 3rd Lord of Gillesland. He married Elizabeth Talbot, the daughter of George Talbot, the fourth Earl of Shrewsbury. His daugther, Margaret, married Anthony Browne, the first Viscount Montacute. He died on 14 November 1563. He seems to have had many sons, (15) Sir Thomas Dacre (c1520)
(15) Leonard Dacre (c1520)
(15) Edward Dacre (c1520)
(15) Francis Dacre (c1520)

The 4th Lord of Gillesland. He married Lady Elizabeth Neville, the daughter of Ralph Neville, fourth Earl of Westmorland. He later married Elizabeth Leyburne, the daughter of Sir James Leyburne of Cunswick.

Unfortunately for the Dacre family, on 1 July 1566 Thomas died, leaving a widow, three daughters and a young son called George, the 5th Lord of Gillesland. Thomas Howard, the fourth Duke of Norfolk, married the widowed Lady Dacre. It was his third marriage to an heiress, and he also arranged to marry his three sons to her three daughters.

Anne married Philip Howard, Earl of Arundel, from whom the present Dukes of Norfolk are descended.

Mary married Thomas Howard, Earl of Suffolk, but died without off-spring.

Elizabeth married William Howard and their great grandson was elevated to the peerage under the titles of Baron Dacre of Gillesland, Viscount Howard of Morpeth and Earl of Carlisle.

The 5th Lord of Gillesalnd. When the 15-year old Lord George Dacre died of a fall from a wooden vaulting horse in May 1569, the male line of descent of the Dacre dynasty also came to an end. Young Lord Dacre's step-father, the devious Thomas Howard, Duke of Norfolk, absorbed the vast Dacre estates which covered great tracts of the north of England - including 70,000 acres of the Barony of Gilsland, lands in Cumberland including Greystoke and Dacre, 20,000 acres around Morpeth and 30,000 acres in Yorkshire.

So the direct line of descent from the Gernet family of Halton in Lancashire merged with the noble Dacre family of Gillesland, and later culminated, through marriage, in the powerful Howard family, the Dukes of Norfolk, the Viscounts of Morpeth, and the Earls of Carlisle.

Called the ablest of Lord Dacre's sons. When Leonard's older brother, Sir Thomas, and then his nephew, George, died Leonard assumed the honor of the Barony and instituted proceedings against his nieces for the estates claiming they were entailed male. This was true. In the arbitration of Edward IV in 1473 both barony and lands had been entailed on the heirs mail of (13) Thomas Lord Dacre. However the Duke of Norfolk, whose sons had married Leonard's nieces, was a powerful man and won the case with help from Elizabeth I, who was trying to win him over.

Leonard, disillusioned and, more important, a devout Catholic, led a revolt, called the Rising of the North, against Elizabeth, and in favor of Mary, Queen of Scots, in 1570. He allied himself with the Percy's of Northumberland and the Neville's of Westmorland, but they proved unfaithful. The revolt was crushed and Lenard fled to Flanders, where he died in 1572.

He apparently joined in the Rising of the North, was attainted, and ended his days in Spanish service.

Francis also attempted to regain the old Dacre estates claiming they were entailed male, this time helped by Elizabeth I, who was now attempting to thwart the power of Norfolk. Francis, learning that he was being used, fled to Scotland in 1589, where he began to intrigue with King James. He was outlawed by the English crown for "imagining and compassing the death of the Queen and the invasion of the country." Francis also, attainted like his brother Edward, ended his days in Spanish service. He and his son survived into the reign of Charles I.

The title of Lord Dacre of the North became extinct, the remaining heirs, Leonard, Edward and Francis, being attainted by act of Parliament.

Ancient Arms: Gules, three escallops, Argent.

Later Arms: Azure, on a cross, five escallops Or.

The Baron and Joan's second son. Edmund held the manor of Heysham in 1309, though I have no evidence that he, or any of the heirs that follow, ever lived there. In the following he "says that he and a certain Robert, son of Thomas de Heysham, are lords of the vill of Heysham."

22 August 1323. "Assize taken at Preston in Amunderness before William de Herle and Geoffrey le Scrope, Justices assigned to take the assize in the County of Lancaster, on Monday next before the Feast of St. Bartholomew the Apostle, in the 17th year of the reign of King Edward, son of Kind Edward. The assize came to recognize if Edmund de Dacre unjustly, etc., disseised Nigel, Prior of the church of the Blessed mary of Lancaster, of his free tenement in Heysham, after the first, etc. . . . And Edmund comes and says that he and a certain Robert, son of Thomas de Heysham [Robertus filius Thome de Hesham], are lords of the vill of Heysham, and they hold the pasture and wastes of the same vill in common. And he says that he held the aforesaid third part put in view in common with the aforesaid Robert in form aforesaid [got that?]: which said Robert is not named, etc." "And the Prior says that he is the lord of the third part of the vill aforesaid, and that the aforesaid Edmund is lord of two parts, etc. And that the same Edmund appropriated the aforesaid moiety of an acre of pasture, whereof the aforesaid third part put is view is parcel, without the assent and will of the said Prior, and in form aforesaid disseised him, thereof." [The Assize ruled in favor of the Prior] - from "Materials for the History of the Church of Lancaster."

The daughter of Edmund de Dacre married John de Washington [see the Gernets of Caton page], forebear of our first President. She was his second wife and they had no children.

Thomas owned Heysham manor in 1356.

He died in 1419 and left a daughter, Elizabeth, who carried Heysham manor to Sir Thomas Harrington.

She married Thomas Harrington, of Hornby and Brierly, Knight, in 1433 in Aldingham, Lincolnshire and carried Heysham manor to that family. Note that (8) Joan de Dacre, the daughter of Sir William de Dacre and Joan Gernet married John de Harrington.

Thomas Harrington was born in 1400 at Hornby Castle, Lancashire, the son of Sir William Harrington [this was not William 5th Lord Harington] and Margaret Neville, who was herself the daughter of Sir Robet de Neville of Hornby, Sheriff of Yorkshire, and Margaret de la Pole. Thomas and his eldest son, Sir John, were Yorkists and fought at the battle of 1st St. Albans and were killed at the battle of Wakefield on 30 December 1460 during the War of the Roses. Sir Thomas' head was placed on a spike in York in warning to other rebels. Elizabeth Dacre Harrington died on 8 April 1485.

Of Brierley, Sheriff of Yorkshire, November 1466. He was a Yorkist and fought at the battle of Towton. He is famous as the knight who took Henry VI prisoner at Waddington Hall. He was given many estates by a grateful King Edward IV. He was attainted by Henry VII in about 1485, for being an adherent of Richard III. All of his estates were granted to Thomas Stanley, Earl of Derby, or his son, Sir Edward Stanley, who married Ann Harrington. The Stanley's had been Yorkists at the time of Edward IV, but supported Henry VII at Bosworth.

He married Maud [Matilida] Clifford, the daughter of Thomas 8th Lord of Clifford. John died in 1460 at the battle of Wakefield.

Edward IV, of York, gave Thomas Stanley, the Earl of Derby, the wardship of the Harrington heirs, Anne and Elizabeth. The Harrington family, however, seized the girls and withdrew to Hornby Castle. Earl Stanley laid seige to the castle in 1470 while petitioning Parliament for redress.

In 1472 the Harrington's relented and Anne was married to the Earl's second son, Sir Edward Stanley of Hornby Castle. Edward became the 1st Baron Mounteagle. He commanded the left wing at the Battle of Flodden Field. Anne died circa 1500, s.p. Edward then married Elizabeth Vaughn, the daughter of Sir Thomas Vaughn of Tretower. He died in 1524.

Elizabeth Harrington married Sir John Stanley, of Melling, in about 1505. He was the llegitimate son of James Stanley, the Bishop of Ely, son of Thomas Stanley, the Early of Derby. Upon his death she married Richard Beaumont.

2nd Lord Monteagle. He held Heysham manor. He was probably the son of Elizabeth Vaughn. He was born on 25 May [February?] 1507. He married Mary Brandon, the daughter of Charles Brandon, 1st Duke of Suffolk. He died on 25 August 1560.

3rd Lord Monteagle. He held Heysham manor. He married Anne Leybourne, the daughter of Sir James Leybourne and Helen Preston [or Anne Spencer?]. She was known as a strong supporter of the Jesuits at the time of Henry VIII's reformation.

She married Edward Parker, 10th Baron Morley, and brought, amongst other properties, the Heysham manor. Because he was a Catholic recusant, Edward was forced to resign his hereditary office of Lord Marshal of Ireland. He clearly made his peace with the throne because he later received the exclusive rights to publish a book instructing children on the taking of the Oath of Allegiance, and served as a commissioner for the trials of Mary Stuart and Philip, Earl of Arundel, in spite of retaining his Catholic sympathies.

William Thomas Parker, the 4th Lord Monteagle and 11th Baron Morley, sold Heysham Manor in 1587 to John Bradley of Thornley. He probably did so because he was short of cash. In 1589 he married Elizabeth Tresham because he needed her dowry of £3800, including property at Hoxton.

He was acompanion of Robert Devereux, the Earl of Essex in his unsuccessful campaign in Ireland, he joined in the Earl's abortive coup against Queen Elizabeth. He turned evidence against the Earl and his life was spared, though he was fined £8,000. It was William who, in 1605, received the mysterious letter, probably from his brother-in-law Frances Tresham, that led to the discovery of the Gunpowder Plot [the attempt of Guy Fawkes to blow up the House of Parliament]. For this service, King James created him 4th Lord Monteagle. Note another Gernet/Garnet connection to this plot in the Garnets of Kirkby Lonsdale page.

Of Bradley In Lancashire and Beetham in Westmorland. He married Anne, the daughter of Robert Braithwaite of Ambleside, Westmorland. His inquest post mortem was dated 1599. He had three daughters and coheiresses, Ellen, Elizabeth and Jane. Jane, born in 1578, married William Leyburne of Cunswick and brought the Heysham manor with her.

He was born in about 1574 in Westmorland. He married Jane Bradley, the daughter of John Bradley of Thornley, in about 1600, and became master of Heysham manor. Their children were,
(18) John Leyburne (c1600) (18) Thomas Leyburne (c1602) (18) Nicholas Leyburne (1604) (18) George Leyburne (1606)

He was born in Halton, Lancashire. Esq., of Cunswick county, Westmoreland. He married Catherine Carus, the daughter of Sir Christopher Carus of Halton, in about 1617. He died in 1663. His children were,
(19) Thomas Leyburne (1618-1674) (19) John Leyburne (1626-1702)

William Leyburne was the eldest son of John Leyburne and was probably born around 1618. He was a cornet of horse in the Queen's Regiment. There is, 1643, October 7, a "Commision from the Earl of Newcastle to Captain William Leyburne to be captain of a troop of barque-busiers in the regiment under the comand of Colonel Sir Ferdinando Leigh, Bart." - from "Report on the Manuscripts of F. W. Leyborne-Popham, Est., Littlecote, Co. Wilt." William was slain in a skirmish at Sheriff Hutton. He was buried on 9 January 1642.

He was born in about 1620 in Cunswick, Westmorland. He married Dorothy Lascelles. He died in 1674. His daugther, Anne, married Leonard Langton. His children were Elizabeth (1645), Mary (1652), John (1653-1679), Catherine (1655), William (c1657), Anne (1657), Agnes (1661)

Amongst those listed who joined the rebellion in 1715 were John Leyburne. In 1715, the Leyburne family having taken part in the Jacobite Rebellion, the manor was forfeited to the government. "To Memory of John Leyburne late of Cunswick Esq. who died ye 9th of Decem: 1737: Aged 69. In whom that Ancient, Loyall, & Religious Family is now extinct . . . He had two Sons, who died in their Infancy so hath left no Issue to inherit his Virtues . . . Lucy his wife . . ." - from Kendal, Westmorland Church News.

She married John de Harrington. A writer about the Harrington family writes

"The family were minor landowners for some time after the Norman Conquest but their power and influence rose quickly during the 13th century when Robert Harrington acquired, through marriage, extensive lands on the shores of Morecombe Bay to add to his existing possessions. His son, John Harrington, added greatly to ghe growing influence of his family in Cumbria by his marriage to another wealthy local heiress, Joan Dacre." - from The Early Harrington Family.

He build Hermitage Castle, in Liddesdale, on the Scottish border.

Steve Hissem
San Diego, California