Ancestors and Aristocrats

The ancient family name of Mucegros, originally from the region of Ecouen, France, is now represented in England in its modern form of Musgrave, as a locational name in various parishes in the north of England. A locational name usually denotes where a man held land and where he actually lived. The original bearer would take his name from the village, town or the area in which he settled and the chosen name would then identify his whole family, and follow them wherever they moved. For the Musgrave family name this is aptly described in William Camden's Brittania of 1586:
Where the River Eden runs by, the villages of Great and Little Musgrave may seem to derive their name from the warlike family of Musgrave ...
The name originates from the old Norman surname de Mucegros and its pedigree can be traced from Lord Gamel de Mucegros born around 1030. His descendants are linked through his son, Wascelinus, living in the time of William the Conqueror and King Henry I, to his grandson Stephen de Mucegros who was born in 1095 in the village of Great Musgrave in a northern region of the country referred to at the time as the Earldom of Carlisle. This region was part of Scotland until 1157, when Henry II of England resumed possession of the area from Malcolm IV of Scotland, and formed two new counties, Westmorland and Carliol (Cumberland), from the former Earldom. Accordingly, the first members of the Musgrave family to actually live and become established in England were Stephen de Musgrave's lineal descendants over the next two centuries or so.
    Thomas de Musgrave (1302-1372) of Great Musgrave was returned to Parliament for the county of Westmorland and was one of the commanders in the vanguard of the army in the battle of Neville's Cross, which took place to the west of Durham and was the decisive battle against the Scottish invasion of northern England in October 1346. The battle ended with a crushing defeat of the Scots and the capture of their king, David II of Scotland. Thomas de Musgrave was rewarded with a knighthood and a handsome annuity with which he purchased Hartley (Harcla) Castle in Kirkby Stephen from Ralph de Neville. In October 1353, a royal licence was granted to crenellate (fortify) the castle because it was "situated near the Scottish Marches and because our enemy the Scots have often burned and destroyed it".
   Sir Thomas had married Margaret De Ros in 1335,and Hartley became the family home where their son, also Sir Thomas de Musgrave, (1337-1409), Lord of Musgrave, and his wife Elizabeth Fitzwilliam (1337-1382) lived. Sir Thomas de Musgrave was active in public office and was elected as Member of Parliament for the county of York in 1363 and 1369, Sheriff of Cumberland in 1393 and Member of Parliament for Westmorland in 1399. Sir Thomas and Elizabeth had two sons, Thomas who died in infancy and Richard. When Sir Thomas died, Hartley Castle and the Lordship of Musgrave devolved upon his surviving son and heir, Sir Richard Musgrave (1355-1409), who married Elizabeth Wollaston and had one son, Sir Thomas de Musgrave (1378-1447).
   In the Musgrave chapel on the south side of the castle grounds is a plain altar tomb dedicated to Sir Richard Musgrave, Elizabeth Wollaston his wife and Thomas his son, with the Musgrave Coat of Arms on the edge of the slab. In this chapel there is another and earlier altar tomb assigned to Sir Richard's great grandfather, also Sir Richard (1226-1301). When this tomb was removed, on the rebuilding of the chancel, skeletons were found in a walled grave underneath the tomb; and in the grave was also found a boar's tusk, confirming the local tradition that this knight killed the last wild boar on Wild Boar Fell.
The Hartley estate continued to grow and dominate the area, particularly through marriage and land acquisition. Sir Thomas de Musgrave married Joan D'Acre in 1397 and their son, Sir Richard de Musgrave (1398-1464), married Elizabeth Beetham, and inherited the Beetham estate near Carnforth on the death of Edward Beetham, Elizabeth's only surviving brother. The most notable acquisition, though, came about in 1430 from the marriage, at the age of just 13 years, of Sir Richard and Elizabeth Beetham's first-born son, Sir Thomas de Musgrave (1417-1457) to Joan Stapleton (1414-1478), the eldest daughter of Lord William Stapleton of Edenhall. Sir Thomas and Joan Stapleton had four daughters: Margaret, Eleanor, Isabel and Mary and four sons: Richard, John, Nicholas and William, all living with their parents at Edenhall. Lord Stapleton died in 1458, a year after the death of William Hilton, the husband of Mary, his younger daughter. Sir Thomas Musgrave also died at this time and this left Joan's eldest son, Sir Richard Musgrave (1431-1491) as the male heir to the Edenhall estate, which came into the Musgrave family when she died in 1478.
    With the acquisition of Edenhall, the Musgraves became one of the most important families in the north of England, with lands and estates spread across most of Cumberland and Westmoreland and extending into Yorkshire. This also marked a significant development in the expansion of the family, with Sir Richard Musgrave and his three brothers John, Nicholas and William becoming the progenitors of the four main branches of the Musgrave tree, namely: the principal branch of Sir Richard Musgrave of Hartley Castle and Edenhall in Westmorland, Sir John Musgrave of Musgrave Hall (Fairbank) in Penrith, Sir Nicholas Musgrave of Hayton Castle in Cumberland and Sir William Musgrave of Crookdale, in Cumberland.
    The Edenhall branch was strengthened even further on the marriage in 1460 of Sir Richard to Joan Clifford, daughter of Joan d'Acre and Sir Thomas de Clifford, (8th Baron Clifford), whose estates and titles included: Baron and High Sheriff of Westmorland, Earl of Cumberland and Earl of Skipton. Their only son, Sir Edward Musgrave was born at Edenhall in 1461 and from him, the Musgrave lineage can be followed to the present day.
    Sir Edward Musgrave (1461-1542) married Alice Radcliffe on 10 January 1483 and secondly Joan, eldest daughter and co-heir of Sir Christopher Ward, of Givendale, Yorkshire on 27 October 1496. He was knighted in 1513 after victory over the Scots of Flodden. Sir Edward and his first wife, Alice had two sons: Sir William Musgrave (1506-1544) and Sir Simon Musgrave (1510-1597), both of whom were distinguished public servants and Members of Parliament.
    Sir William Musgrave married Elizabeth Curwen in 1524 and had one son, Sir Richard Musgrave (1524-1555) and, with an unknown mistress, an illegitimate son Jack who, although knighted and titled as Sir Jack Musgrave, Captain of Bewcastle, could not succeed to his father's estate. Sir William's legitimate son, Richard Musgrave, who did inherit the estate, married Anne Wharton in 1547 and they had one son, Thomas, who died unmarried in 1567, bringing Sir William Musgrave's direct lineage to an end.
    His brother Sir Simon Musgrave's line, however, continued at Edenhall through his marriage to Julianna Ellerker in 1551. They had four children: a daughter, Anne, and three sons: Sir Christopher Musgrave (b. 1553), Sir Thomas Musgrave (b. 1554) and Sir John Musgrave (b. 1555). Sir Simon's eldest son, Sir Christopher, followed his father into public service and was elected as Member of Parliament for Carlisle in 1571 when he was just 18 years old. He was then deputised as Keeper of Bewcastle in 1585 by his father, Sir Simon, who had taken over the post from his illegitimate nephew, Sir Jack Musgrave.
    Sir Christopher Musgrave married Jane Curwen in 1583 and their only son, Sir Richard Musgrave, was born in 1585. In 1597, at the age of just twelve, he succeeded to the estates of Hartley and Edenhall on the death of his grandfather Sir Simon Musgrave and two years later, aged fourteen, he married Frances Wharton, daughter of Philip Wharton, 3rd Baron of Wharton. He was knighted on 25 July 1603 at the coronation of King James I and, in 1604, he was elected Member of Parliament for Westmorland. While on a tour of Europe with his friend, Lord Cavendish, he was taken ill and died at Naples in 1615, where he was buried in the cathedral.
    On 29 June 1611, just four years before Sir Richard's death, the Musgrave Baronetcy of Hartley Castle in the County of Westmorland was created for him in the Baronetage of England. This was the first of four Musgrave Baronetcies, the others being: the Baronetcy of Hayton Castle in the County of Cumberland, created in 1638 for Sir Edward Musgrave but extinct since the death of the tenth Baronet in 1875; the Baronetcy of Tourin in the County of Waterford, created in 1872 for Richard Musgrave (1746-1818) and currently assigned to Sir Christopher John Shane Musgrave, 8th Baronet and Lord Lieutenant of County Waterford; and the Baronetcy of Drumglass in the County of Antrim, created in 1897 for the industrialist and philanthropist James Musgrave but extinct since his death in 1904.

Roll of the Musgrave Baronets of Hartley Castle from 1611

1st Baronet: from 1611 to 1615, Sir Richard Musgrave
Born 1585 at Kirkby Stephen. Died 6 Nov 1615 aged 30 at Napoli, Italy
Married Frances Wharton in 1602. Knighted in 1603 at the coronation of James I. One daughter and one son Philip, who succeeded him.

2nd Baronet: from 1615 to 1677, Sir Philip Musgrave
Born 21 May 1607 at Edenhall. Died 7 Feb 1677/8 aged 70 at Edenhall
Married Juliana Hutton in 1625. Seven children, of which son Richard succeeded him as 3rd baronet, and son Christopher became 4th baronet after the death of his brother. MP for Westmorland 1640-42, resigned and fought for the Royalist cause in the Civil War, for which he was rewarded after the Restoration with a peerage, which he never took up, a grant for 31 years of the passing tolls on cattle going through Cumberland, and the appointment of Governor of Carlisle Castle. MP for Westmorland from 1661 until his death in 1677.

3rd Baronet: from 1677 to 1687, Sir Richard Musgrave
Born June 1628 at Edenhall. Died 27 Dec 1687 aged 59
Married Margaret Harrison. One daughter Mary, who married John Davison of Blakestone, Co. Durham. After Sir Richard's death, the baronetcy passed to his younger brother Christopher.

4th Baronet: from 1687 to 1704, Sir Christopher Musgrave
Born 1631 at Edenhall. Died 29 Jul 1704 aged 73 at Swallow Street, London
Married twice. First marriage 31 May 1660 to Mary Cogan. Second marriage 15 May 1671 to Elizabeth Frankland. 3 children from first and 12 children from second marriage. Succeeded by his grandson Christopher, only son of his eldest son Philip. MP for more than 40 years (Carlisle 1661-90, Westmorland 1690-95, Appleby 1695-98, University of Oxford 1698-1701, Totnes 1701-02, Westmorland 1702-04)

5th Baronet: from 1704 to 1735, Sir Christopher Musgrave
Born 25 Dec 1688, son of Philip Musgrave and Mary Legge. Died Jan 1735 aged 47 at Penwortham, Lancashire
Married Julia Chardin on 21 Jun 1711. 11 children, including Philip (6th baronet), Hans (born 1717) and Chardin (1723-1768). Demolished Hartley Castle. MP for Carlisle (1713-15) and Cumberland (1722-27)

6th Baronet: from 1735 to 1795, Sir Philip Musgrave
Born 4 May 1712 at Edenhall. Died 5 Jul 1795 aged 83 at Sunbury, Middlesex
Married Jane Turton on 06 Jul 1742. 10 children, all but two were girls. Succeeded by his son John Chardin. MP for Westmorland 1741-47

7th Baronet: from 1795 to 1806, Sir John Chardin Musgrave
Born 15 Jan 1757 at Edenhall. Died 24 Jul 1806 aged 49 at Tunbridge Wells, Kent
Married Mary Filmer on 13 Jul 1791. 5 children. Three of his sons successively inherited the baronetcy.

8th Baronet: from 1806 to 1827, Sir Philip Christopher Musgrave
Born 12 Jul 1794 at Marylebone, Middlesex. Died 11 July 1827 aged 33 at Edenhall
Married Elizabeth Fludyer on 21 Oct 1824. One daughter who died aged 18. Succeeded by his younger brother Christopher John. MP for Petersfield (1820-25) and Carlisle (1825-27)

9th Baronet: from 1827 to 1834, Rev. Sir Christopher John Musgrave
Born 6 Aug 1797 at Edenhall. Died 4 May 1834 aged 36 at Edenhall
Married Marianne Hasell on 14 Sep 1825 (she died 1835). Five daughters. Succeeded by his younger brother George.

10th Baronet: from 1834 to 1872, Sir George Musgrave
Born 14 Jun 1799 at Edenhall. Died 29 Sep 1872 aged 73 in London
Married Charlotte Catherine Graham of Netherby on 20 Jun 1828. 3 sons and 3 daughters, but the two older sons pre-deceased him. Succeeded by his youngest son Richard Courtenay.

11th Baronet: from 1872 to 1881, Sir Richard Courtenay Musgrave
Born 31 Aug 1838 at Edenhall. Died 13 Feb 1881 aged 42 at Marylebone, London
Married Adora Frances Olga Wells on 17 Jan 1867. 8 children. Lord Lieutenant of Westmorland 1876-81. MP for Cumberland East 1880-81.Succeeded by his son Richard George.

12th Baronet: from 1881 to 1926, Sir Richard George Musgrave
Born 11 Oct 1872 at Edenhall. Died 21 May 1926 aged 53 in London
Married Eleanor Harbord on 9 Feb 1895. 2 sons. Succeeded by his only surviving son Nigel Courtenay. Stopped living at Edenhall around 1900 and sold the hall and estate in 1921.

13th Baronet: from 1926 to 1957, Sir Nigel Courtenay Musgrave
Born 11 Feb 1896 at Edenhall. Died 19 Feb 1957 aged 61
Unmarried. Succeeded by his cousin Charles Musgrave.

14th Baronet: from 1957 to 1970, Sir Charles Musgrave
Born 9 Nov 1913 in London, grandson of Sir Richard Courtenay Musgrave. Died 26 Jul 1970 aged 56.
Married Olive Louise Avril Cringle in 1948

15th Baronet: since 1970, Sir Christopher Patrick Charles Musgrave
Born 14 Apr 1949 in Norwich District.

The Baronet heir presumptive is Julian Nigel Chardin Musgrave (b. 1951), younger brother of the 15th Baronet.

The Musgrave Family Coat of Arms

According to Burke's General Armory of 1844, the arms of Sir Adam de Musgrave (1170-1216), 1st Lord of Musgrave and contemporary of King John, were Gules with six annulets d'or with a crest: two arms in armour embowed proper, the gauntlets grasping an annulet d'or. Centuries later, the Gules (orange/red) ground was replaced with Azure (blue) and the heraldic Coat of Arms assigned to the family of Musgrave is now designated as:

   Shield: Azure ground, six annulets d'or, three, two and one
   Crest: Two arms in armour, the hands gauntleted proper, grasping an annulet d'or
   Motto: Sans Changer - Without Changing

The Coat of Arms appears in various forms including: court records and documents, historic and religious icons, banners, building insignia and stained glass windows. There are also a number of variants of the Coat of Arms, including the original ground, employed by different branches and unions of the family ...


Musgrave Coat of Arms

 Musgrave of Hayton Castle

Musgrave - Clifford quartered

Musgrave of Tourin
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