Sir Robert III de Holand, 1st Baron Holand

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_de_Holland,_1st_Baron_Holand

He was a son of Sir Robert de Holland of Upholland, Lancashire and Elizabeth, daughter of William de Samlesbury.

He was a member of the noble Holland family and a favourite official of Thomas, 2nd Earl of Lancaster and had been knighted by 1305. His favoured treatment by the powerful earl caused his rival knights in the area, led by Sir Adam Banastre, Sir Henry de Lea, and Sir William de Bradshagh (Bradshaw), to start a campaign of violence towards him and the earl's other supporters known as the Banastre Rebellion. The rebels protested against the earl's actions and authority by attacking the homes of his supporters and several castles, including Liverpool Castle. Sir Robert later assisted in the hunt for fugitives after the rebels had been routed in Preston by a force under the command of the Sheriff.

The manors of Thornton and Bagworth were acquired by him in 1313. From 1314 to 1321 he was called to Parliament as a member of the House of Lords. In 1322 his part in the Battle of Boroughbridge, when he defected from Lancaster to the King, was deemed treacherous and cowardly and led to his disfavour. Although King Edward III of England would later pardon him, the partisans of the Earl of Lancaster considered him a traitor and had him executed.[1] The execution occurred in 1328 by beheading in Essex; his head was sent to the new earl and his body to Lancashire to be buried.

M.P. 1314-1321

Married between 1284-1317

Robert received knighthood about 1261. He began as a Lancashire Squire and owed his advancement to the household of the feudal lord, Thomas, Earl of Lancashire, who was the grandson of King Henry III. Sir Robert took part in the Scottish warsat the end of the reign of King Edward I and the beginning of the reign of King Edward II (Longshanks). For his valiant service in the Scottish turmoils, the Earl of Lancashire bestowed on Sir Robert de Holland seven manors in Derbyshire. Also, in 1307, he obtained further territorial rights from the Crown and was given leave to fortify his mansions of Holland in Lancashire. Robert was also appointed Chief Justice of Chester. In the 5th year of King Edward Longshanks reign, Robert was constituted governor of Beeston Castle in com. Crest. In the 8th year of Longshanks reign, Robert was summoned tp parliament among the barons of the realm. Unfortunately, the Earl of Lancashire headed a feudal party against the Crown. Robert de Holland accompanied him in these military operations. In 1312, they executed Piers Gaveston, King Edward's favorite, on Blacklow Hill, near Warwick. Robert de Holland subsequently surrendered to the King and was stripped of his territorial possession. His estates were eventually restored to him, however, the Earl of Lancashire opposed. Robert de Holland was accused of abandoning his lord (who had raised him from nothing) and was taken to the woods near Henley Park on Oct. 7, 1328 where he was beheaded.

Sources: 1.p.1 The Lanc Hollands, Bernard Holland (GS#929.242 H719h)

2. P. 300-301 Hist. of Lanc vol 4 (GS #942.72 H2bai)

3. Ped 1 The Fam of Holland of Mobberley and Knutsford, Edgar Swinton Holland (GS #929.242 H719hc)

4. G.E.C., Completer Peerage 5 p. 217 Gregson's Hist of Lans (GS #Q942.72 H2qr1)

That this family was of great antiquity in the county of Lancaster is evident from the register of Cokers and Abbey, to which religious house some of its members were benefactors in King John's time. The first person of the name of any note was Robert de Holand, who was in the wars of Scotland, 31st Edward ! (1303) and who owed his advancement to his becoming secretary to Thomas, Earl of Lancaster, for previously he had been but a "poor knight." In the 1st Edward II (1307), he obtained large territorial grants from the crown, viz., the manors of Melburne, Newton, Osmundeston, Swarkeston, Chelardeston, Mormanton, and Wybeleston, in the county of Derby, and the same year had a military summons to march against the Scots. In the 8th Edward II (1315), he was first summoned to parliament as a baron; and in the 10th and 12th, he was again in the wars of Scotland, in which latter year he had license to make a castle of his manor house of Bagworth, co. Leicester. Upon the insurrection of his old master, Thomas, Earl of Lancaster (15th Edward II), his lordship promised that nobleman, to whom he owned his first rise in the world, all the aid in his power, but failing to fulfill his engagement, Lancaster was forced to fly northwards and was finally taken prisoner at Boroughbridge, when Lord Holand rendered himself to the king at Derby and was sent prisoner to Dover Castle. For this duplicity he became so odious to the people that, being afterwards made prisoner a second time, in a wood near Henley Park, towards Windsor, he was beheaded on the nones of October, anno 1328, and his head sent to Henry, Earl of Lancaster, then at Waltham Cross, c. Essex, by Sir Thomas Wyther and some other private friends. His lordship m. Maud, one of the daus. and co-heirs of Alan le Zouch, of Ashby, and had issue, Robert, Thomas, Alan, Otto, Jane, and Mary. Robert, Lord Holand, was s. by his eldest son, Sir Robert Holand, 2nd baron. (Sir Bernard Burke, Dormant and Extinct Peerages, Burk'e Peerage, Ltd., London, 1883, pp. 278--9, Holand, Baron Holand)

Lands that Sir Robert Holland, lord of Upholland, claimed had been taken from him by King Edward II in 1322, and which he asked to be returned 2nd December, 1327 (PHW Booth, 2012):

1. Leicestershire

Manors of Shepshed, Bagworth (and its park), Lindridge, Thornton, Botcheston, Newton, and land in Leicester borough.

1. Northamptonshire

Manor of Brackley

1. Buckinghamshire

Manor of Broughton

1. Lancashire

Manors of Samlesbury, (Up-)Holland with its members, Hale with Ditton, Woolton, Thornton le Fylde, Stalmine, Bilsborough, Claughton, Halton, Whittingham, Broughton, Preston, Eccleswick, Singleton, Hope, Torrisholme.
Forests of Toxteth, Croxteth and Simonswood.
Castle and town of Liverpool, borough of Salford.
Lordship of the Wapentakes of [West Derby] and Salford, with the offices of serjeant attached to the same.
Parks of Heapey and Hyde (Fulwood).
Other lands in Hapton, Wavertree, Everton, Crosby, Haydock, Compton, (West) Derby, Chorley, Golborne, Aughton, Newton and Haigh, Brightmet, Westleigh and Nether Kellett.
Advowson of the church of Leigh.

1. Derbyshire

Manor of Dalbury (Lees).
Lands in ‘Kemwe’, ‘Longelache’, Middleton, Idridgehay, and [...........].

6. Staffordshire

Manor of Yoxall.

1. Rutland

Two thirds of the manor of Killington.

1. Lincolnshire

Rents of lands in Sutton and Lenton.

1. Yorkshire

Manors of Templenewsam, Houghton and Temple Hirst.
Lands in Sandal.

1. Hertfordshire

Half the manor of Gaddesden.

1. City of London

A house called ‘Vyen’ in Paternoster [lane].

1. Northumberland

Manors of Haydon Bridge and Silksworth.

1. Cheshire

Manors of Mottram-in-Longdendale and Tintwistle.
Dependant lands in [............]. Hollingworth, Staly, Matley and Godley.

.

7 October 1328
Beheaded in battle of Boreham Wood, Essex, England:Buried at Buried Grey Friars Church, Peston Lancashire.