They came with the Conqueror

by L G Pine

Page 146/147/148

            The name of Muschamp occurs in the early annals after the Norman Conquest, and although the actual line of affiliation between the Muschamps of modern times and those of the Middle Ages is not definitely known, the existence of such a connection cannot be reasonably doubted.

            The origin of the name Muschamp is said to be the field or house fly (musca), and in early Muschamp seals there are examples of the fly proper, or bee, which goes far to substantiate this origin. Quite clearly the name is not originally English, and in fact there are records of Roger and his son Robert Muschamp in the Domesday Book, The latter was Seneschal of Gilbert of Ghent, a powerful supporter of William the Conqueror.

            Roger, mentioned above, held Wilgebi in Lincolnshire. They had properties also in Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire, Robert and Thomas were generally known as of North and South Muskham; Hugh and Ralph appear to have held Wilgebi, they being grandsons of Roger of that place, Some, however, connect the name of the family with Mountchamp in Normandy. It is impossible to declare positively whether the housefly, or the place-name, Muskham in England, Mountchamp in Normandy is the origin of the surname. The Muschamps married with the Vesci family. Thomas Muschamp, son of Robert de Muschamp, first Baron of Wooler, married Maud de Vesci, and adopted her name to preserve it, thus becoming Lord Alnwick.

            Although there was later a branch of Muschamp in Surrey, the family was mainly seated north of the Trent, in Durham and Northumberland. After William the Conqueror had subdued England he planned to take over Wales and Scotland. Meeting with many difficulties, however, he was forced on the borders of those countries to keep powerful forces. This is the origin of the counties palatine of Durham and Cheshire facing respectively the Scottish and Welsh frontiers. Northumberland was for long in dispute, as was Cumberland, between English and Scots,

            Part of the barony of Wooler was Heatherslaw in the Cheviots, which was later to be better known as Flodden, the site of the famous battle in 1513. A dispute arose over this part of the Muschamp property between the family and the Church at Durham, during the reigns of Henry I (1100-1135) and Stephen (1135-1154). The ecclesiastical argument was that Thomas de Muschamp had given Heatherslaw to Durham, having entered the Church as a monk; Cicely Muschamp and her brother Ralph resisted the claim. As they were supporters of Queen Matilda, Stephen found against them. Matilda's son, Henry II (1154-1189), renewed Stephen's orders. Absolom, Prior of Durham from 1154 to 1162, certified the sheriff of the county that he was present when Thomas de Muschamp gave Heatherslaw by the investiture of his sword on the High Altar, and that he would but for infirmity have appeared personally, and brought before Stephen Bulmer, the King's Sheriff, witnesses to prove the truth of the transaction, Yet the King in another writ expressed his surprise and displeasure that his order had not been obeyed, and commanded them forthwith on the pain of forfeiture to submit to his order and stop the contention. It has been said that the Sheriff eventually found for Cicely and married her, thus gaining possession of her land.