Baron Scales

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Baron Scales is a title in the Peerage of England.

Origins

According to Morant, the de Scales family were descendants of a Norman called Scaliers[1] who came to England with William the Conqueror in 1066.<ref name=D'Eudemare>François d'Eudemare, Histoire excellente et héroïque du roi Williaume le Bastard, jadis roi d’Angleterre et duc de Normandie (Rouen, N. Ango, 1626)</ref> However, definitive evidence for this needs to be found; another family living in Cambridgeshire, Huntingdonshire and Bedfordshire went by the name of "de Scalariis" whereas the family of the Baron Scales lived mainly in Essex, Norfolk (specific references include "Scales Manor" in Middleton, "Scale's How Manor" in South Lynn and "Scale's Manor" in all of Hockwold, Rainham, Barton and Ilsington[2]) and Herts and were spelled "de Scales" (or de Schales or de Escales). No connection has been found between the two families so far, but they have often been confused by scribes, etc.

References to possible early members of this family include:-

  • 1166 Sir Ricardus de Scialis at Husseburne (Suffolk?)[3]
  • 1211-12 Sir Radulphus de Escalis at Dover Castle[3]
  • 1211-12 Sir Rogerus de Scalis[3]

Robert de Scales

The ancestors of the Baron Scales came into possession of the manors of Newsells, Hertfordshire and Rivenhall, Essex in 1255 by the marriage of Sir Robert de Scales to Alice de Rochester (or de Roffa/Rossa), whose family had held the manors since 1210. Robert died in 1256.

Robert is probably the same Robert as mentioned in some, or all, of the following references:-

  • 1232-33 Sir Robert de Scales lord of the manors of Bedenested and Scolegh in Essex, Parva Willington in Kent and Lynne, Middelton and Ilsington in Norfolk.[4]
  • 1242-43 Sir Robert de Scales lord of the manors of Parva Wilmynton in Kent, Wilton, Hocwolde, Herdwic and Nudebonve in Norfolk, Wetherden and Wridelincton in Suffolk[4]

It is worth noting that there were places referred to as the "Manor of Scales" in both Parva Wilmynton in Kent[3] and in Norfolk.[5] It is possible that they were named after the Scales family or even that the Scales family originated from one of them.

Peter de Scales

Robert's eldest son who inherited his father's lands but died shortly afterwards in 1258.

Robert de Scales

Peter's younger brother who inherited their father's lands upons Peter's death in 1258. Robert was involved in several expeditions to France and had summons to Parliament. He was listed at Dover Castle from 1261-2, as was a Sir Radulfus de Escales.[4] Upon Robert's death in 1266 he was succeeded by his son Robert, who he had by his wife Muriel, and who was to become the first of the Baron Scales. Left a widow called Clemencia[5]

History of the Barony

The Scales barony was created in 1299 by writ for Robert de Scales.

The last known holders were Elizabeth de Scales and her husband Anthony Woodville, 2nd Earl Rivers. After Elisabeth's death in 1473, Anthony was summoned in her right. Anthony was beheaded by Richard III at Pontefract on 24 Jun 1483 and the peerage fell into abeyance. However, after the death of Anthony, his younger brother Edward Woodville, a supporter of Henry Tudor, styled himself Lord Scales, having been bequeathed Elizabeth's land by his brother.[6]

Several people have subsequently tried to claim the title but none have been successful. The most recent was made by Sir Charles Robert Tempest who claimed to be a co-heir in 1857.[7]

Residences

The Scales family's main residences were Middleton in Norfolk, Newsells in Hertfordshire and Rivenhall in Essex but also held other lands including Ouresby and Torneton in Lincolnshire.[5]

Barons Scales (1299)

References

  1. ↑ Philip Morant, The History and Antiquities of the County of Essex
  2. ↑ Walter Rye, An index to Norfolk topography
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Red Book of the Exchequer
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Book of Fees
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Patent Rolls
  6. ↑ C. P. Wilkins, "Woodville, Sir Edward (d. 1488), soldier and courtier", Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press 2011.
  7. ↑ House of Lords, Supplemental Case of the House of Lords
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