The Early Seton Family Charters

The 1st Seton Family Charter

Philip de Seton recieved from King William the Lion, in 1169, a charter confirming to him certain lands which remained with the family for almost six hundred years.  It is one of the oldest charters in existence.  It conveys three Baronies, that of Seton, Winton and Winchburgh, with all of the baronial privileges, fixes the reddundo at one knights service, expresses the formal authentication of a goodly array of witnesses, and is comprised in seven short lines. 

The original in the possession of the Earl of Eglinton and Winton.

Here follows the Charter:

Willielmus Dei grat.  Rex Scotorum, episcopis, abbatibus, comitibus, baronibus, justiciariis, vice comitibus, ministries et omnibus probes (hominibus) totius terrae nostrae, clericis et laicis, salutem.  Sciatis praesentes et futuri me concessis, et hac carta mea confirmasse, Phillipo de Seytune terram quae patris sui, scilicet Seytune, et Wintune, et Winchelburgh, tenendam sibi et heredibus suis de me et heredibus meis in feodo et haereditate ; in bosco et plano, in terris et aquis, in pratis et pascuis et in omnibus earundum terrarum justis pertinentiis ; cum sacca et socca, tholl et them, et infangthief, cum furca et fossa ; libere, quiete, plenary, et honorifice per servitium unius militus.  Testibus D. Davide fratre meo, comite Dunecano justiciaro, Ricardo de Morvill constabulario, Waltero Olefer justiciaro, Alano dapifero, Waltero de Bercly camerario, Willielmo de Lind., Ricardo de Humphraville, Joanne de London ; Apud Striviling.

The 2nd Seton Family Charter

Alexander de Seytoun, first of that christian name, recieved from King William, a charter re-confirming to him the lands which had been granted to his father, Phillip de Seytoun.  It is another of the oldest charters in existence, and it conveys the three Baronies, those of Seton, Winton and Winchburgh, with all of the baronial privileges, and fixes the knights service, with twelve witnesses.

The original in the possession of the Earl of Eglinton and Winton.

Here follows the Charter:

Willielmus Die gratia rex Scotorum episcopis, abbatibus, comitibus, baronibus, justiciariis, vicecomitibus, prepositis, ministries, et omnibus probes hominibus terrae suae, clericis et laicis, salutem.  Sciatis presentes et futuri me conciessisse, et hac carta mea confirmasse, Alexandro, filio Philipi de Setune, terram quae fuit Philipi, patris sui, scilicet, Setune et Wintune et Wincelburg, tenendam sibi et haeredibus suis de me et haeridibus meis in feodo et haeriditate; in boscho et plano, in terries et aquis, in pratis et pascuis, in moris et maresiis, in stagnis et molendinis, per rectas universas praedictarum terranum, et cum omnibus aliis ad praefatas terras juste pertinentibus; cum socca et sacca, cum Tol et Them, et infangan thef, cum furca et fossa: libere et quiete, plenarie et honorifice, per servitium unius militis, sicut carta mea patri suo, inde facta testator.  Tesibus, Hugone cancellario meo, Willielmo de Morvill constabulario, Roberto de Quincy, Alano filio Walteri dapifero, Philippo (Valoines) camerario, Henrico de Quincy, Willielmo de Haia, Johanne de Hasting, Roberto de Berkely, Davide de Haia, Willielmo Flandrense, Herberto Marescallo.  Apud Forfar, xvj Junij.

Some of the Latinized words are derived from the Saxon and are common terms of Feudal Law:

- Sacca et socca, signify the full right of holding court and administering law in one's own barony.

- Tholl et them, the privilege of holding own's own market and exercising freely to all matters pertaining to villains attending it.

- Infangthief, the right of summary decisions for thieves taken in the seigniory of the lord.

- Furca et fossa, execution by gibbet and pit, male criminals being hung, and females drowned in a well or pit filled with water.