Maccus of Macuswell

http://www.electricscotland.com/webclans/m/maxtone.html

Maccus died c. 1150, after which charters were then witnessed by “Liolf, son of Maccus” (c. 1153-1170s), and/or Robert his brother, (c. 1160-1200) (Melrose, pp56/7, 75-81). He seemingly left his name to the Barony and village of Maccus’toun, or Maxton, and to a pool on the Tweed below the present Kelso Bridge, Maccus’weil, or Maxwheel, around which grew the village of Maxwellheugh. An Edmund de Macheswel is recorded c.1147x 1152 (Lawrie ESC 196), Herbert de Macchuswel in 1159 (RRS i, #131), and the lands + church of Maxton are named in a charter of 1189x93 (RSS ii,#342), so it would seem that the placenames were established during Maccus’ lifetime, and he was condidered important enough for them to be retained after his death. His heirs, however, used the terminolgy “son of Maccus”, rather than “of” Maxton or Maxwell. In the founding Charter of Kelso Abbey in 1159, (RRS i, #131, above) witnesses include Ughtred of Mow, Liulf son of Maccus, Ferteth Earl of Strathearn, David Olifard and Herbert of Maxwell. It is surely likely that Herbert would also be styled ‘son of Maccus’ if he was Liulf’s brother.

It is also possible that both placenames were established generations before this time. There may well have been an earlier Maccus after whom the lands and pool were named, but no new evidence is likely to come to light of such links.

It is interesting to note that Edmund de Machuswel is using that name around the time of Maccus’ death, and possibly before (1147), whilst Maccus’ sons Liulf (+ his dau. Cecily) and Robert continue to use ‘son of’ nomenclature for another 50 years. The inference is that Edmund took his name from the place he was born, or lived/owned, but that he was unlikely to be Maccus’ son, especially considering that he wasn’t mentioned subsequently and was possibly dead soon after; by 1159, Herbert (his son?) was ‘de’ Maxwell, and there are no known references to Edmund or Herbert as sons/descendants of Maccus.

No evidence has been seen that Maccus ever owned the lands near the pool, although he must have had a successful fishery there, for it and the surrounding lands/toun to have taken his name so permanently.  

Whilst holding lands so close to a Royal Castle (Roxburgh) was often considered an advantage, in terms of prestige and sanctuary, this could be outweighed in this case by the adverse geography of these lands:-