This is a branch of the once great and powerful family of NEVILE, Lords of RABY, who subsequently became Earls of Westmorland,* and whose descent is deducable from our Saxon annals.

WALTHEOF, Officiary Earl of Northumberland, in the reign of King EDGAR, A.D. 969, had by his wife, Judith, daughter of the Earl of Champaign, a son,

UCHTRED, who was made Earl of Northumberland, (his father then living) in the year 980, and was murdered by Thursbrand, in 1017. He was thrice married, first, to Edfrid, daughter of Aldane, Bishop of Durham, secondly, to Sejan, daughter of Styr Fitz Ulf, and thirdly, to Elsgina, dau. of King ETHELRED. By the last lady he had an only daughter,

AGATHA, heiress of RABY, and other large possessions which had belonged to her mother. She espoused MALDRED, son of CRINAN, an eminent Thane, and bore an only son,

COSPATRICK, who obtained from the CONQUEROR the earldom of Northumberland for a considerable sum of money, but afterwards becoming discontented, fled into Scotland, with other great northern chiefs, taking his mother and sisters, and EDGAR ATHLING, along with him. He subsequently made several hostile incursions into England, and lost his earldom, anno 1072, in consequence; but obtained Dunbar, and the adjoining lands in Loudon, from the Scottish monarch. He d. in 1073, leaving issue,

1. DOLPHIN, who became EARL OF DUN

BAR.

II. Waltheof, a benefactor to St. Mary's
Abbey, York.

III. UCHTRED, of whom presently.
IV. Juliana, married, at the instigation
of HENRY II., to Ranulph de Merley,
of Morpeth, a great Northumberland
baron.

v. Etheldreda, m. to Duncan, natural son of MALCOLM, KING OF SCOTLAND. The third son,

UCHTRED, was Lord of Raby, in which he was s. by his son,

DOLPHIN, Lord of Raby, who wedded Alice, daughter of Walcher, Bishop of Durham, and Earl of Northumberland, and was s. by his son,

MILDRED FITZ-DOLPHIN, Lord of Raby and Staindrop, in the county of Durham,

whose son,

• Refer to BURKE'S Extinct and Dormant Peer

age.

ROBERT FITZ-MALDRED, Lord of Raby, espoused ISABEL DE NEVILE, only daughter of GEOFFREY DE NEVILE,* by Emma, daughter and heir of Bertram De Bulmer, a great baron of the north, and eventually heiress of her brother, Henry De Nevile, of Branspath and Durham. At this marriage it was stipulated that all its issue, male, should assume the surname of NEVILE; which issue were,

I. GEFFREY FITZ ROBERT, who bore "gules, a saltier arg."

11. John (Sir), of Pickhall, in Yorkshire, bore the same as his elder brother, but for distinction, powdered with ermines. This Sir John Nevile was ancestor of the present CHARLES NEVILE, esq. of HOLT, in the county of Leicester.

HI. William who turned colours, bearing arg. a saltier gules. From this William descended the Neviles of Holbeck, in Yorkshire, some of whose family are still living in the neighbourhood of Leeds.

The eldest son,

GEOFFREY (Fitz Robert) DE NEVILL, Lord of Raby, Branspath, &c. &c. had by his wife, Margaret, two sons, namely,

ROBERT, his successor.

Geoffrey, governor of Scarborough Castle, in the reign of HENRY III. He m. Margaret, daughter and heir of Sir John Longvillers, of Hornby Castle, in Lancashire, and died in the 13th EDWARD I. then seised of the manor of APPLEBY, and other lands in Lincolnshire; the castle and manor of HORNBY, in the county of Lancaster; and HOTON LONGvillers, in Yorkshire; the entire of which he acquired by his marriage. He left a son and heir,

JOHN NEVILL, from whom descended the Neviles of Hornby, whose heir, female,

The elder son and heir,

ROBERT DE NEVILL, upon doing his fealty in the 30th HENRY III. had livery of all the lands which he inherited from his grandfather, Robert Fitz Maldred. In the 43rd of the same reign he had a military summons to march to the relief of the King of Scotland, and he was then constituted governor of the castles of Norham and Werke. In the next year he had a similar | command in Bamborough Castle, and in two years afterwards, he was made warden of all the Royal Forests beyond the Trent, which was followed by the appointment of Justice Itinerant, for the pleas of those forests. In the 47th he was one of the barons who undertook for the king's observance of the ordinances of Oxford, and in the same turbulent era he was appointed captain general of all the king's forces beyond the Trent, sheriff of Yorkshire, and governor of the castle of York. In 1266, we find him governor of Pickering Castle, and in 1270, again governor of Bamborough, although in the interim he had joined the standard of the barons. He m. Ida, daughter of Roger De Bertram, Lord of Mitford, and had a son,

ROBERT, who wedded MARY, elder daughter and co-heir of Ralph Fitz Ranulph, Lord of Middleham, by whom he acquired the manor of Middleham, the manor of Carleton, and the forest of Coverdale. He died in the lifetime of his father (anno 1271), leaving an only son,

RANULPH, successor to his grandfather. He d. in 1282, and was s. by his grandson, RANULPH DE NEVILL, who, being a minor, obtained permission from the king that his friends might plough and manage his lands; and in the 13th EDWARD I. had livery of certain manors, part of his inheritance. He was summoned to parliament as a BARON, on the 8th June, 1294, and from that period to the 18th February, 1331. He was in the wars of France, temp. EDWARD I. and in those of Scotland in the next reign. It is said, however, that he little minded secular business, but devoted the principal part of his time to conversation with the Canons of Merton and Coverham, upon whom he bestowed some considerable grants. His

This nobleman had a warm contest with the PRIOR OF DURHAM, about the presentation of a stag on St. Cuthbert's day, in September, "which, in truth (says Dugdale) was rather a rent than an obligation, in regard he held RABY, with the eight adjoining townships, by the yearly rent of £4. and

lordship m. first, Euphemia, daughter of Sir John De Clavering, and had two sons, viz.

ROBERT, called the "Peacock of the North," who d. s. p. in his father's life time.

RALPH, his successor.

He espoused secondly, Margery, daughter of John, son of Marmaduke De Thweng, but had no other issue. He d. in 1331, and was s. by his only surviving son,

RALPH DE NEVILL, second baron, summoned to parliament from 20th November, 1330, to 20th January, 1336. This nobleman, in the time of his father, was retained by indenture to serve the Lord Henry de Percy for life, in peace or war, against all men except the king, with twenty men at arms, whereof five to be knights, receiving £100. sterling per annum. In the 7th of Edward III. his lordship was one of the commissioners sent into Scotland, there to see that the covenant between Edward de Baliol, King of Scots, and his royal master,

a stag." It seems that contrary to the custom of his predecessors, he required that the PRIOR should feast himself, and those whom he might think proper to bring with him, at the presentation of the stag; that the prior's servants should be set aside for the occasion, and that his own servants and officers should be placed in their stead. To all which the churchman demurred. Nevill, in maintenance of his rights, invited John De Baliol, of Barnard Castle, to accompany him as a guest to the priory, but Baliol refused, declaring that he time such a privilege there. While Sir William was totally ignorant of the Nevills having at any De Brompton, the chief justice of the bishopric, acknowledged that he was himself the first who commenced the extravagant practice; for being a young man, and delighting in hunting, he came with the Lord Nevill at the offering of the stag, and said to his companions, "Come let us go into the abbey and wind our horns." The prior further alleged that none of Ranulph's predecessors had breakfast only on bringing the stag, and that the Lord himself never stayed dinner, unless specially invited. During the life of Ranulph, the matter remained unadjusted, but in the time of his son and successor, RALPH, second lord, it was finally settled, as thus stated by Dugdale. "In this year, doing his fealty to William, PRIOR OF DURHAM, upon Lammas day, for the manor of RABY, he told him, that he would offer the stag as his ancestors had done; saving that, whereas his father required, that the prior's servants should be set aside at that time, and his own serve in their stead; he would be content that his should attend together with those of the prior; and whereas his father insisted, that his servants should only be admitted to dinner; he stood upon it that his should be there entertained the whole day, and likewise the morrow at breakfast; whereupon the prior made answer, "that none of his ancestors were ever so admitted, and that he would rather quit the stag, than suffer any new custom, to the

ever made such a claim, but were satisfied with a

were ratified by the parliament of that kingdom; and the next year he was joined with Henry de Percy in the wardenship of the Marches of Northumberland, Cumberland, and Westmorland. He had subsequently high and confidential employments, and was constantly engaged in the wars of Scotland and France. He m. Alice, dau. and co-heir of Hugh de Audley, and had issue,

1. JOHN (Sir), who succeeded his father, and was third lord. (For the continuation of his lordship's line, refer to BURKE'S Extinct and Dormant Peerage.)

11. William (Sir), gentleman of the bed-
chamber to King RICHARD II.

III. Thomas, Bishop of Ely.
IV. ROBERT (Sir), of Eldon.
v. Alexander, Archbishop of York.
vi. Ralph (Sir), of Candall.

This Ralph, Lord Nevill, died in 1367, and was buried at Durham; at a mile westward

prejudice of their church." But to this, Ralph replied, "that he would perform the whole service or none, and put the trial of his right upon the country." The prior, therefore, knowing him to be so powerful, and that the country would not displease him, declined the offer; howbeit, at length, to gain his favour, in regard he had no small interest at court, and might do him a kindness or displeasure, was content for that one time, he should perform it as he pleased, so that it might not be drawn into example afterwards: and to the purpose proposed, that that indenture should be made betwixt them. Whereupon the Lord Nevill brought but few with him, and those more for the honor of the prior, than a burthen; and so shortly after dinner took his leave, but left one of his servants to lodge there all night, and to take his breakfast there on the next day; protesting that being both a son and tenant of the church, he would not be burthensome to it, in respect it would be no advantage to himself, but might much damnifie him." He appears afterwards to have submitted the matter entirely to the award of the prior, and the elder monks. The latter of whom reported, "That they had often seen the stag offered, but that the lord never staid dinner unless invited to do so by the prior;" in this they were confirmed by the old men of the country, who farther stated, "that so soon as the stag was brought, it was carried to the kitchen, and that those who conveyed it were taken into the hall to breakfast, as they that bring their rents used to be." "Moreover, whenever it so happened that any of the Lords Nevill were bidden to dinner, his cook was admitted into the kitchen to prepare a dish for him; so likewise another servant in the cellar, to choose his drink; and in like manner, some other at the gate, who knew his servants and followers merely to let them in, and to keep out others, who, under pretext of being servants, might then intrude. But this was only done by the prior, as out of courtesy and respect, and not at all out of right."

of which place remains the fragments of a once beautiful cross, called Nevile's, built by this baron, anno 1346, to commemorate some victory. His lordship's fourth son,

SIR ROBERT NEVILE, of Eldon, who distinguished himself in arms, m. Clara, dau. of Sir Francis Pinckney, and was s. by his son,

SIR ALEXANDER NEVILE, father of THOMAS NEVILE, esq. whose son, WILLIAM NEVILE, esq. wedded the dau. and heir of Barker, of South Leverton, in the county of Nottingham, and thus acquired that estate. His son,

Anthony, a ward of Queen
MARY, living in 1599.

Jervis, m., daughter of Cooke,
and widow of D. Bradley.
Henry, slain in Flanders.

II. GEORGE, whose line we are about to continue.

Sir Anthony wedded, secondly, Elizabeth or Dorothy, daughter of Thomas, Lord Burgh, of Gainsborough. His second son,

GEORGE NEVILE, esq. m. first, Mary Fairfax, and had, with many other children, whose registers cannot now be ascertained,

a son,

FRANCIS, baptized 25th January, 1530, whose son,

SIR JOHN NEVILE, m. Elizabeth, eldest daughter and co-heir of William Boswell, of Chete, in the county of York, and had

HENRY, from whom descended

JOHN NEVILE, of Mattersey, Notts, whose dau. and heiress,

ELIZABETH, baptized 27th August, 1635, m. Sir William Hickman, bart. of Gainsborough, in the county of Lincoln.

Maria, m. to Gervase Clifton.

He wedded secondly, Isabel, daughter and heir of John Crofts, esq. of Ragnall, in Nottinghamshire, and had, with other issue,

ROBERT NEVILE, esq. who espoused Alicia, second daughter and co-heir of William Boswell, of Chete, by whom he had, with other children, Sitha, m. to Anthonius de Staunton, and

GEORGE NEVILE, esq. who m. Barbara, sister and co-heir of Sir John Hercy, of Grove, and fifth daughter of Sir Humphrey Hercy, by Elizabeth, his wife, daughter of Sir John Digby, of Ketelby. By this lady he had issue,

1. JOHN, of Grove, who m. Gertrude,
daughter of Richard Whalley, esq.
and had a son and successor,
HERCY NEVILE, esq. of Grove, who
m. Bridget, daughter of Sa-
ville, esq. of Lupset, and had
(with a daughter, Barbara, m.
first, to John Babington, esq. of
Rampton, and secondly, to An-
thony Eyre, esq. of Kiveton,) a
son and heir,

had two sons, EDWARD, his heir, and Anthony, a major in the royal army during the civil wars, who died 24th February, 1688, aged 69, and was interred in the chancel of the church of Everton, Notts. The elder

son, EDWARD NEVILE, esq. of Grove, m. Maria Scott, of Camberwell, and had, with two daughters, Catherine, who died unm. in 1683, and Anne, m. to John Millington, esq. barrister-at-law, a son and heir,

EDWARD NEVILE, esq.of Grove,

who was created a BARONET
24th February, 1674. This
gentleman, who represent-
ed Retford in parliament,
espoused Elizabeth, sister
of Robert Holt, esq. of War-
wickshire, and relict of
Kidderminster, esq. but died

s. p.

II. GEORGE, ancestor of the family now before us.

III. Gervase, IV. Anthony,

} both died s. p.

v. Dionysius, who m. Elizabeth, dau. of Gernon, of Rolleston, and had with many other children, who all died issueless, a son and successor, GERVAIS NEVILE, esq. of Thorney,

who m. Elizabeth, daughter of Nicholas Rayner, esq. and died in 1643, leaving two daughters, Abigail and Alise, and a son, JOHN NEVILE, esq. of Thorney, who m. Rebecca, daughter of Ralph Clark, and was father of

DIONYSIUS NEVILE, esq. of Eastwood, near Rotherham, Yorkshire, ancestor of the NEVILES of BADSWORTH,* now

GILBERT NEVILE, esq. Grove, who wedded Margaret, dau. of Sir Thomas Bland, of Kippax Park, in the county of York, and