The early Baron's of Seton in Scotland, and in Northumbria/England.

Philip de Seton,

Philip de Setoune succeeded to Seher, his father. He also made a strong alliance by marrying Helen (sometimes called Alice, born circa 1124--she probably had both names: one given in baptism and the other at confirmation), only daughter of Waldeveor Waltheof, fifth Earl of Dunbar and March, by Aelina, his wife. This great family, once the most powerful in Scotland, is now represented by the Marquess of Bute. Philip got a charter from King William the Lion, in 1169, confirming to him certain lands, which remained in possession of his descendants for more than five hundred years. It is one of the oldest Scottish charters in existence, and is mentioned with enthusiasm by the learned Cosmo Innes (Scotland in the Middle Ages, p. 20), who says: "I could not give you a better specimen of one of those ancient simple conveyances than a charter of William the Lion, a grant to the ancient family of Seton. It conveys three great baronies, confers all baronial privileges, fixes the reddendo at one knight's service, expresses the formal authentication of a goodly array of witnesses, and is comprised in seven short lines. The original is in possession of the Earl of Eglinton and Winton. From Philip stems the family's of Winton, and possibly of Edmonstone from his younger sons who were presented with those estates, and in the style of the times, took as their family name that of their estate.  Sources: "The History of the House of Seytoun to the Year MDLIX", Sir Richard Maitland of Lethington, Knight, with the Continuation, by Alexander Viscount Kingston, to MDCLXXXVII. Printed at Glasgow, MDCCCXXIX. "A History of the Family of Seton during Eight Centuries" George Seton, Advocate, M.A. Oxon., etc. Two vols. Edinburgh, 1896"An Old Family" Monsignor Seton, Call Number: R929.2 S495

Alexander de Seton

Alexander de Setoun succeeded his father Philip, who died in 1179. He married Jean de Berkeley (born circa 1150), daughter of Walter Berkeley or Barclay, the same who had witnessed his father's charter--chamberlain to the king--an office of great influence and dignity. He subscribed a charter given by Secher de Quincy, Earl of Winchester, in England, his kinsman, to the Church of Saint Mary of Newbattle in the thirteenth century, which is interesting because it contains the earliest mention of coal-mining in Scotland, an industry since so largely developed in the Lothians. The monks were the pioneers in this, as in many other discoveries and improvements of benefit to mankind. The use of coal, long unknown in Italy, is mentioned as something wonderful by ’neas Sylvius, afterward Pope Pius II., who visited Scotland in the fifteenth century. He says in his Commentaries: "A sulphurous stone dug from the earth is used by the people for fuel." Sir Alexander died in 1211. Sources: "The History of the House of Seytoun to the Year MDLIX", Sir Richard Maitland of Lethington, Knight, with the Continuation, by Alexander Viscount Kingston, to MDCLXXXVII. Printed at Glasgow, MDCCCXXIX. "A History of the Family of Seton during Eight Centuries" George Seton, Advocate, M.A. Oxon., etc. Two vols. Edinburgh, 1896 "An Old Family" Monsignor Seton, Call Number: R929.2 S495

Bertrand or Bertram de Seton

Bertrand or Bertram de Setoun succeeded to Alexander, his father, and married Margaret Comyn (born circa 1176 in Buchan, Aberdeen, Scotland), daughter of William Comyn, Earl of Buchan, Great Justiciar of Scotland. Robert de Commines, whose patronymic became corrupted, like so many other grand old Norman names, and was finally turned into Comyn, Cumin, and Cumming, received the Earldom of Northumberland from William the Conqueror in 1068, and was the founder of a family at once unfortunate and renowned in Scottish history; for, while having great possessions in England, it forfeited lands and title and fell from its high estate in Scotland. Buchan was one of the old Celtic maormordoms, made earldoms at a later and more civilized period, and was, early in the thirteenth century, brought into this family by an heiress, Marjory, only child of Fergus. After passing successively to several branches of the royal Stewarts, and by heiresses into the families of Douglas and Erskine, it is now held by the last--Earl of Buchan and Lord Cardross--who carries in his shield the feudal arms of the earldom; but, as we shall see later on, when we come to the Heraldry of the Setons, the same were used with far more reason by the Earls of Winton, and are still borne as "arms of pretence" by the Earls of Winton of the second creation, who are also Earls of Eglinton. The only family in which the name as well as the arms continue, is Gordon-Cumming of Altyre, Bart. The present Lady Gordon-Cumming is an American. Bertrand received from his kinsman Patrick de Dunbar, Earl of March, a grant of the lands of Ruchlaw, which was confirmed by the king at Stirling on February 22, 1172. He died about 1230, leaving two sons: Adam and Alexander, who witnessed the confirmation of a charter to the burgh of Glasgow by King Alexander II., dated November 22, 1225. He is probably the same who, as witness to another and later charter, is styled "Dominus Alexander de Settone, Miles." Sources: "The History of the House of Seytoun to the Year MDLIX", Sir Richard Maitland of Lethington, Knight, with the Continuation, by Alexander Viscount Kingston, to MDCLXXXVII. Printed at Glasgow, MDCCCXXIX. "A History of the Family of Seton during Eight Centuries" George Seton, Advocate, M.A. Oxon., etc. Two vols. Edinburgh, 1896"An Old Family" Monsignor Seton, Call Number:R929.2 S495