GAULTER DE SOMERVILLE

The name of the Norman was Sir Gualter de Somerville. He became Lord of Whichnour, county Stafford, and his descendants possessed considerable property, about the close of the 12th century, in the co. Lanark, and in other parts of Scotland; of whom William de Somerville was one of the barons appointed at the marriage of ALEXANDER II. (whose reign commenced in 1214) to exercise in a tournament at the castle of Roxburgh. This William's descendant, James, thirteenth Lord Somerville, augmented his fortune considerably by an arrangement with his kinsman, William Somerville, Esq., of Eadstone, co. Warwick, and of Somerville-Aston, co. Gloucester, the celebrated poet, and author of the "Chase," representative of the English and elder branch of his lordship's family; by which, in consideration of certain sums applied to the relief of burdens, the poet, who was unmarried, settled the reversions of his estates upon Lord Somerville; and died in 1742, when the baron inherited accordingly. The present head of the family is Kenelm, LORD SOMERVILLE; a younger branch is represented, in the female line, by JAMES SOMERVILLE SOMERVILLE, Esq., of Dinder-house, co. Somerset.

--(This name appears on the Battle Abbey Roll)