Gravelda of Northumberland

  Noted events in her life were:

• From Gen-Medieval Archives: Gospatric Fitz Orm's mother, Gravelda of Dunbar . ¹⁹³
From: "Douglas Richardson" <royalancestry@msn.com>
Subject: Gospatric Fitz Orm's mother, Gravelda of Dunbar
Date: 27 Nov 2005 19:02:13 -0800

Dear Newsgroup ~

The traditional identification of Gospatric Fitz Orm's mother as Gravelda (or Gurwelda, Gimilda), daughter of Gospatric I, Earl of Dunbar, is based on a document which is found in two different printed cartularies. I've examined this document for its accuracy and, as best I can tell, it is reliable. The document is essentially the same in both cartularies, with minor differences. The document specifically states that Gravelda of Dunbar was given four properties in marriage by her brother, Waltheof son of Earl Gospatric, namely Seaton (in Camerton), Camerton, Flemingby, and Greysouthen (in Brigham), all in Cumberland. Surviving contemporary evidences shows that these four properties were all subsequently held by Gospatric Fitz Orm (see, for example, Grainger and Collingwood, The Register and Records of Holm Cultram, 1929, pp. 18-19, 49). The passage of these properties to Gospatric Fitz Orm is strong confirmatory evidence of the accuracy of the document. Moreover, the onomastic evidence of Gospatric Fitz Orm's given name is also important, as Gospatric Fitz Orm would have been named for his mother's father, Earl Gospatric.

In the second charter, we find that Gospatric Fitz Orm refers to Ebrea as "matre mea" (my mother) [Reference: James Wilson, Register of the Priory of St. Bees (Surtees Soc. 126) (1915): 63-64]. However, we know from other instances in medieval records that a man may refer to either his mother, step-mother, or mother-in-law as "my mother." So the term "my mother" in medieval records is vague in and of its own nature. Just this past week, for example, I cited several instances of a mother-in-law being called "mother" in medieval records. In this case, Joan de Arundel was repeatedly called "king's mother" to King Henry IV of England, where in truth she was the mother of his deceased wife, Mary de Bohun [References: Rymer F?dera 8 (1727): 422 ([Joan], Countess of Hereford, styled "mother" by King Henry IV of England); Calendar of Patent Rolls, 1399-1401 (1903): 34, 60-61 (instances of Joan styled "king's mother")].

Best always, Douglas Richardson, Salt Lake City, Utah

Gravelda married Orm Lord of Seaton, son of Ketel, Baron of Kendall and Unknown.¹⁶⁰