Sir Michael de Harcla Knight

  Information about this person:

• Background Information: From GEN-MEDIEVAL-L Archives. ¹⁹³
From: Tim Cartmell <inver1000@yahoo.ca>
Subject: Sir Michael de Harcla of Hartley in Westmorland
Date: Thu, 22 Mar 2007 12:10:49 -0700 (PDT)

The following information is what I have found regarding Sir Michael de Harcla of Hartley, the father of Sir Andrew de Harcla, earl of Carlisle.

"Michael de Harcla was the Deputy Sheriff of Westmorland in 1276 & 1277; was the Sheriff of Cumberland 1285-1298; was the MP for Westmorland in 1301." [Source, CWAAS, 'An Armorial for Westmorland and Lonsdale,' published 1975, pg. 147.]

"Was the Governor of Carlise in 1296; was Justice of the Peace in 1300; was appointed a commissioner to perambulate the forests of the counties of Nottingham, Cumberland and Yorkshire, in the reign of Edward I, and in 1307 he petitioned the King for reasonable allowance for the ravages and burnings of the Scots while he was Sheriff; he died in or before 1311, his executors being Henri and Michael de Harcla, his sons, and Patrick de Curwenne, his nephew [Curwen family of Workington]." [Source, Transactions, CWAAS, New Series, Vol. 1929, 'Sir Andrew de Harcla', pg. 99. See also, 'History of the Ancient House of Curwen,' by JF Curwen, published 1928, pg. 45.]

The aforementioned Patrick de Curwenne, Knt. (of Drigg in Cumberland) is recorded as being nephew to Michael de Harcla, and cousin to his son, Sir Andrew de Harcla; the balance of probabilities suggest that either Michael de Harcla's wife was a Curwen of Workington, or Sir Gilbert (Patrick's father) de Culwen's wife was a de Harcla of Hartley. In the book, 'Thomas Denton: Perambulation of Cumberland in 1687-1688', pg. 159, Denton stated that, "Threapland [in Torpenhow Plumland] was at first given by Alane, the 2nd lord of this barony [Allerdale], unto the steward Ketellus; from whose discendant it came to Michaell Hercla, father of Andrew, earle of Carlisle in Edward the 1st's time."

• Background Information: From GEN-MEDIEVAL-L Archives. ¹⁹³
From: <pajunkin@bellsouth.net>
Subject: Re: Sir Michael de Harcla of Hartley in Westmorland
Date: Fri, 23 Mar 2007 13:42:02 -0400

I have a bit of information on the Harcla (Hartley) family since the name is often found in association with the Viponts. ?Richard le Franceis, son of Gilbert, son of Philip [correction, should be Adam], who in 1257 had a grant of free warren in Westmoreland and Cumberland, who was the son of John le Fraunceys to whom Robert de Vipont had confirmed the whole of Mauld?s Meaburn, married a daughter of Michael de Harcla. In 1278, the king seised the lands of Michael de Harcla until it shall appear by what right and title Richard le Fraunceis son and heir of Gilbert le Fraunceis married the daughter of Michael de Harcla, being then the king?s ward.? The History and Antiquities of the Counties of Westmoreland and Cumberland Joseph Nicholson and Richard Burns.

• Background Information. ¹¹⁹¹
In the last year of Henry III, Michael de Harcla brought an action against bishop Coucy for a manor of Dalston in Cumberland; and althought the record says that the bishop recovered, yet in 7 Edw I, it seems to have been again stirred, for in that year Bishop Irton paid the said Michael 320 marks of silver, which seems to have been for an absolute discharge. How Harcla's title accured doth not appear: he only set forth that he was son of William, son of Michael, son of Walther son of Michael, son of Walter, brother of Robert, brother of Hervicius, who was dully feifed in the reign of King Henry I, and whose clerk and presentee (Americk Talbot) was admitted and instituted into the rectory of Dalston aforesaid.

The History and Antiquities of the Counties of Westmorland and Cumberland, Volume II

• Background Information. ²⁰⁷
The first connection of the ancient family of Vernon in Derbyshire was by the marriage of Richard, a younger son of one of the Barons of Shipbrooke, in Cheshire, with a coheiress of the Avenells, of Nether Haddon. This Richard [had a son named Robert who] died without male issue, leaving a daughter and heiress, married to Gilbert le Francis, whose son Richard took the name Vernon, settled at Haddon-hall, and was a common ancestor of the Vernons of Haddon, Stokeasy, Hodnet, Sudbury, &c, Richard, son of Gilbert le Francis, married a daughter of Michael de Harcla, and die in the year 1322 at age 65.

~Magna Britannia, p. liii