General Notes

REFN: 3599AN
REFN: P3600
Hugh De Baliol succeeded Eustace (the elder) as head of the family . He
was certified by the Crown to hold the barony of Biwell (paying five
k nights' fees). He also was required to find 30 soldiers for the guard of
Newc astle-upon-Tyne, as his ancestors had done since the time of William
Rufus. A lso, as a gift from Henry II, Hugh was made lord of Hiche in
Essex. Later, fr om King John, he obtained the lands of Richard
Unfronville and of Robert De M eisnell in County York -- this for his
support of the king in the baronial wa r. In 1216, De Baliol joined with
Philip De Hulcotes in defense of the northe rn border with Scotland. When
the Scottish king subjugated the whole of North umberland for Lewis of
France, De Baliol and De Hulcotes firmly held all the fortresses on the
line of the Tees. Barnard Castle was particularly notable i n this defense
(3). Hugh received King John at Barnard Castle at this time, a nd for a
short while was besieged there by Alexander II of Scotland who wishe d to
"espie whether it was assailable at any side." The castle at that time
was apparently too strong to afford an easy conquest (2).
Hugh De Baliol was also described by Dugdale as having "benefitted
himself not a little in the t roublesome times of King John and, even at
the great entrance of Henry III, c ould not forbear his wonted course of
plundering."(2) Hugh was married to Cec ily De la Fontaine. Some time
around 1228, he was succeeded by his son John w ho, having been born at
Barnard castle about 1216, would have been a meer ado lescent at the time.