General Notes

killed by nephew Malcolm son of brother Gilbert.

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The following information was given in a post-em by Curt Hofemann, curt_hofemann@@yahoo.com:

born: at or before 1121 [Ref: The Scots Peerage, 1904, v4 p136], parents: [Ref: Weis AR7 121b:27, 38:24], father: [Ref: Watney p430, 886]

Jim, I have place of birth as Carrick, Ayrshire, Scotland.  Possibly Ayrshire is short for Argylshire... Curt
Note: There are places named Carrick in Ayrshire, Argyll & Bute (Argyllshire), and Fife.  Apparently Uchtred was from Ayrshire - not Argyllshire... Jim

marriage:
names: [Ref: Mg Crt Barons, Turton, Watney 430, 886, Weis AR7 38:2, 121b:27]

Roland's father Uhtred married Gunnilda daughter of Waltheof, lord of Allerdale in Cumberland. [Ref: Essays of the Nobility of Medieval Scotland by K.J. Stringer, Edinburgh, 1985, p49 (citing Bruce by G.W.S. Barrow p36, n2)]

died: 22 Sep 1174 [Ref: Peerage of Scotland by John Philip Wood, Edinburgh, 1813, v1 p612-13, Watney 430, Weis AR7 121b:27] 1174 [Ref: Weis AR7 38:24]

murdered by his nephew, Malcolm, at the instigation of his brother, Gilbert [Ref: Watney 430]

Fergus was succeeded in the lordship of Galloway by his son Uchtred. . . .His brother Gilbert, having first torn out his eyes and brutally mutilated him, put him to death. Blinding and castration was used in Celtic times to make a man ineligible for the kingship; Gilbert apparently thought himself a monarch and wanted his brother out of the way. [Ref: A History of Dumfries and Galloway by Sir Herbert Maxwell, Edinburgh, 1896, p54]

Biographical notes:

Uchtred first appears 7 July 1136 when he and his father, Fergus, witnessed a charter of King David I granting land in Perdeyc or Patrick to the Church of Glasgow, when that church was dedicated.  Considering he was at least 15, that would place his birth at or before 1121 and during the lifetime of his presumed grandfather, Henry I, who died in 1135. [Ref: The Scots Peerage, 1904 v4 p136] note: "presumed" implies his mother was possibly not the (illegit) dau of Henry I whereas CP, ES, Louda, Paget & Weis all say she was.  Need to re-check these sources to see if they show any qualifications to the connection... Curt

Uchtred, youngest son, divided with Gilbert the extensive inheritance of Fergus. They led their forces to the army of King William the Lion, when he invaded Northumberland in 1174. The natives of Galloway rebelled. Gilbert and Uchtred gave homage to Henry II of England. Gilbert's son Malcolm murdered Uchtred 22 September 1174, and was resisted by Roland. [Ref: Peerage of Scotland by John Philip Wood, Edinburgh, 1813, v1 p612-13]

In summary, Uchtred murdered his brother Gilbert on 22 Sept 1174 after their return from England.  On 4 July 1175, a battle in "Galweta" was fought between Uchtred's son Roland and Gillepatrick, in which many were slain, most on the side of the latter.  Soon after, in another battle with Gillecolum, the latter was slain along with a brother of Roland.

Gillecolum was probably the same person as Gillecolam, a son of Somerled's by a previous marriage.  If so, he no doubt contended for the rule of Galloway.  In this there is another link to our statement that Fergus, first Lord of Galloway, and Somerled were connected.  They carried the same armorial bearings--viz., a lion rampant--which, as we have described elsewhere, was of Scandanavian origin. [Ref: History of the Lands and Their Owners in Galloway by P.H. M'Kerlie, New Edition, 1906 v1 p118-9]

Regards,
Curt