Helen, Countess of Winchester

Helen de Galloway

• Daughter of Alan mac Lochlan, Lord of Galloway and Helen of Galloway

Roger married Helen, eldest daughter and co-heiress of Alan, Lord of Galloway. Without legitimate sons to succeed him, Alan's lands and dignities were divided between the husbands of his three daughters, so Roger acquired Alan's position as Constable of Scotland, and one-third of the lordship of Galloway (although the actual title of Lord of Galloway went through Helen's half-sister Devorguilla to her husband John I de Balliol).

Roger had three daughters by his first wife, but no sons. His subsequent marriages produced no issue. After his death his estates were divided between the daughters, and the earldom of Winchester lapsed. The three daughters of Roger and Helen of Galloway were:

Helen (also known as Ela or Elena), who married Alan Baron Zouche of Ashby;

Elizabeth (also known as Isabella), who married Alexander Comyn, 2nd Earl of Buchan;

Margaret, who married William de Ferrers, 5th Earl of Derby (and was thus stepmother to her own stepmother).

Helen of Galloway, (b.c. [1208], Wigtownshire, Scotland –1245), also known as Ela, was the daughter and co-heiress of Alan, Lord of Galloway and Hilda or Helen de L'Isle] daughter of Rognvald Sumarlidasson, Lord of the Isles and Fonia of Moray..

Helen had two half-sisters and co-heiresses, Devorguilla (or 'Derborgaill', mother of King John of Scotland), and Christina (or 'Cairistiona'). She was married to Roger de Quincy, 2nd Earl of Winchester, as his first wife. The three daughters of Roger and Helen of Galloway were:

Helen de Quincy (also known as Ela), who married Alan, Baron Zouche of Ashby;

Elizabeth de Quincy (also known as Isabella), who married Alexander Comyn, 2nd Earl of Buchan;

Margaret de Quincy, who married William de Ferrers, 5th Earl of Derby.

Helen of Galloway died in or after 1245, and was buried at Brackley, Leicestershire.

Helen of Galloway died after 21 November 1245 in England.

Helen was our ancestor through three distinct descent lines--through her daughter Margaret, through her daughter Helen, and through her daughter Elizabeth, each of whom was independently our ancestor.

See "My Lines"

( http://homepages.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cousin/html/p394.htm#i6889 )

from Compiler: R. B. Stewart, Evans, GA

( http://homepages.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cousin/html/index.htm )

http://www.thepeerage.com/p487.htm#i4865

Helen of Galloway (fl. thirteenth century) was a daughter and co-heiress of Alan, Lord of Galloway (died 1234) and his first wife, a daughter of Roger de Lacy, Constable of Chester. Helen was the first wife of Roger de Quincy, Earl of Winchester (died 1264). Although Helen was the first of Roger's three wives, his only descendants were his three daughters by Helen. The eldest daughter, Margaret, married William de Ferrers, Earl of Derby (died 1254); the second daughter, Elizabeth (or Isabella), married Alexander Comyn, Earl of Buchan (died 1289); the third daughter, Helen, married Alan de la Zouche (died 1270). Citations Oram (2004a). Oram (2004b). Acheson (2004). References Acheson, E (2004). "Ferrers family (per. c.1240-1445)" . Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (January 2008 ed.). Oxford University Press . doi :10.1093/ref:odnb/54521 . Retrieved 6 November 2011. Subscription or UK public library membership required. Oram, RD (2004a). "Alan, Lord of Galloway (b. before 1199, d. 1234)" . Oxford Dictionary of National Biography . Oxford University Press . doi :10.1093/ref:odnb/49362 . Retrieved 5 July 2011. Subscription or UK public library membership required. Oram, RD (2004b). "Quincy, Roger de, Earl of Winchester (c.1195-1264)" . Oxford Dictionary of National Biography . Oxford University Press . doi :10.1093/ref:odnb/22966 . Retrieved 6 November 2011. Subscription or UK public library membership required.

As her father died in 1234 without a legitimate son (he had an illegitimate son named Thomas), according to both Anglo-Norman feudal laws and to ancient Gaelic customs, she was one of his heiresses, her two sisters Helen and Christina being older and therefore senior. This might be considered an unusual practice in England, but it was more common in Scotland and in Western feudal tradition. Because of this, Dervorguilla bequeathed lands in Galloway to her descendants, the Baliol and the Comyns.