Sir Michael le Fleming Knight

  General Notes:

~Ancestral Roots . . ., 41:25 ¹⁶⁰

  Noted events in his life were:

• Background Information. ⁷²⁰
The Lancashire estates of Aldingham were in the hands of the Flemings from almost the time of the Conquest. Michael Flandrensis, or le Fleming, most likely a father or grandfather of Sir Michael was a military adventurer who came to England out of Flanders and is said to have been in the retinue of Duke William of Normandy. He took part in the struggle on the red field or Senlac, where the last of the Saxon kings fell, and Battle Abbey. When the Conqueror had established his position, he rewarded his faithful followers with a grant of the Manor of Aldingham, of which the Saxon thegn, Ernulf, had previously disposed.

There were likely successive members of the family named Michael le Fleming, son after son. The first Michael le Fleming likely died sometime shortly after the conquest.

The next time the name Michael le Fleming, it up is in the Black book of the Exchequer. King Stephen founded the Abbey of Furness in 1126/27, and bestowed upon its abbot almost regal privileges. According to the Black Book of the Exchequer, the lands of Michael le Fleming were specially exempted from the exercise of the privileges claimed by the Abbey of Furness. Michael le Fleming was a benefactor to the abbey, and in 1153, while John de Cancefield was abbot, bestowed up it the estate of Fordeboc.

Michael le Fleming had three sons, William, who inherited Aldingham; Richard who married Elizabeth, daughter and eventually heiress of Adam de Urswick. It is through Elizabeth that he acquired the manor of Coniston, Coniston Hall became the residence of this branch of the family; and Daniel, the third son, was a cleric in the Chetham Library.

~Families of Lancashire and Cheshire, pg. 243-245

• Background Information. ¹⁹³
Newsgroups: soc.genealogy.medieval
From: butlergrtATaol.com
Subject: A BRIEF Myth and Realty of Michael Flanderais/Le Fleming/de Furness
Date: Sun, 30 Dec 2007 08:47:10 -0800 (PST)

"Good Morning, To sperate the myth and the reality of the decent in an abbreviated form: Many read of Michael Flanderais who came with William the Conquor in 1066, kinsman of Baldwin, Count of Flanders, in-law to the conquor and yet ascribe this as the same Michael who granted a charter in 1153 as the same, it is not likely and is a myth.

Myth 1: If this were so and considering that Michael was only a boy of 10-15 years of age this would have made this Michael at minimum he would have 96 to101 not counting if he came over as a full-fledged man in his 20's.

Fact 1: The first that I have found of this Michael is after the Domesday survey 1086 when Ernulf held 6 caracutes of land in Aldingham and it is given to Michael le Fleming, this may be the same Michael above, son of Michael or a different Michael.(Domesday Survey)(Notitia Cestriensis) In or about this time after the Cumbria subjugation of 1072 he recieves;

Fact 2: Arlecdon,Frizington,Roginton,Weddicar, and other lands. Myth 2: Michael allegedly recieves this from William de Meschines, but as he DID hold these lands it was probably from Randolph,Williams father as William was not born until approx. 1102/3.

Fact 3: The next mention of Micheal le Fleming is in 1127 when ? Stephen confirms his grant to the Abbot at Furness his lands EXCEPTING those held by Michael le Fleming.

Fact 4: Then a charter granting land to the church of St. Mary of Furness where his son Daniel is a clerk before 1153.

Fact 5: 1153 this Michael le Fleming described as extremely old, granted a 2nd charter to the church of St. Mary at Furness.(Furness Coucher p. 454) Confirmed by William Count of Bologne(Pipe Rolls p. 307) (Furness Coucher p. 454)

Fact 6: The above 1153 charter was sighed by William ,Michaels' son and heir, Gregory his grandson and Hugh.Obviously Gregory was not Williams heir as Michael is unless Gregory dies and the next Michael (Gregorys brother)succeeds Gregory. This will be seen below in a later confirmation of descent. Myth 3: as MANY secondary sources have this as the original Michael who died 1175/77 this is not the original Michael as he would be now130-40 and the Michael of 1086/1127 would be around 100 years of age.

Fact 7: William son and heir of Michael confirms what his father had granted in exchange for Berdsea. Michael, son of William(preceeding) son of Michael confirmed the same. This Michael is when the family is called de Furness. It is this Michael that died in 1175/77. Further confirmation, " I William, son of Michael son of William de Furness confirm to the abbot of Furness what my grandfather did give, Crimelton and Ros with the fisheries....)(Antiquities of Furness, p100) It is this William de Furness/Fleming, reached his majority and recieved livery of his lands 1186(Pipe Rolls p.60) died before 4/18/1204 (Patent Rolls p.41) that married Alyna dau. of Thomas fitzCospatric who she married 2nd William Pincerna(LeBoteler) 1215/16. I have no brith or marriage date of Alyna, but if she were even 15 years of age when she married de Furness and soon after he came of age she would have approx 45 when she married William Pincerna, if not older.

I hope you have enjoyed! Best Regards, Emmett L. Butler"

Michael married Christian de Stainton, daughter of Gilbert de Stainton Lord of Kendal and Unknown.¹⁶⁰