CHAPTER V.

THE EARLY ANCESTRY IN NORMANDY.

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THE earliest recorded ancestors of the Seaton family were Normans, who derived their remote origin from the Goths, the latter of whom took such an active part in the affairs in Europe from the third to the eighth century of the Christian era. 'The Goths," says E. A. Freeman in his History of the Goths, "may on many grounds claim foremost place among Teutonic nations which had a share in breaking up the Roman power.

No Teutonic people has left behind it such early remains of a written literature. The Goths first appear in history in the ancient land of the Gatæ. In the third century they were still settled outside the empire, and appear as invaders and ravagers of the Roman territory from the outside. In the middle of the fourth century they were a great power under the Gothic king, Ermanaric, whose domain stretched from the Danube to the Baltic."

Some writers claim the Goths had always been Catholics, but others say they embraced Arianism before the end of the fifth century. In the sixth century the Goths overran Spain and Italy, but many were finally overcome, and some joined their conquerors, the Romans.

Written laws were put forth among the Goths in the fifth century, but the great collection of their laws dates from about the year 654. In the seventh century the Goths and the Romans were again Catholics.

Alexander Gibson, M. A., says of Normandy, the country from which our remote ancestors went to Scotland:

"Normandy is the name which was given to part of northern Gaul in consequence of its occupation in the early part of the tenth

century by Northmen, whose name was, on Gaulish soil, gradually changed into Normans."

The chief of the early Scandinavian settlers in Normandy was Rolfe, known in Latin as Rollo and in French history as Rou, a viking leader to whom many early exploits, real or imaginary, are attributed. He received a grant of a tract of land of which Rouen was the center, from Charles the Simple, King of Carolingia. The land was cut off from the duchy of France, yet the grant was from the king and not from the duke of France, and the king received Rolfe's homage. The two princes were presently engaged in war with each other, but Rolfe seems to have been faithful to King Charles.

The Normans were thus at war with the French from the moment of their settlement. In the next century the land was "parted out" among the successful contestants, and before the end of the tenth century there was an oppressed peasantry in the land, who were evidently the conquered descendants of the earlier inhabitants. These people were either slaves or serfs, the latter of whom were considered as belonging to the land on which they lived and with which they might be transferred. They were not regarded as personal property, as were the slaves. Serfdom existed in Normandy at an early date and in Scotland as late as the eighteenth century, while in Russia serfdom was not abolished until 1861.

A nobility gradually sprang up among the Normans, consisting of those who could claim kindred with the reigning house. The leaders among the soldiers had a share of the land to be divided among the conquerors, and the slaves and serfs made the noblemen wealthy in the course of time.

The country was frequently, if not continually, at war with some power, and generally after each decided defeat on either side some of the participants on the losing side sought refuge in some other country, disposing of what property they could and taking as much as possible of what remained with them.

It is stated by some writers that it was in Normandy that surnames, that might be handed down to their descendants, were first given to the nobility, from which country they were said to

have been introduced into near-by countries; but evidently those writers forgot their Bible lessons. However, the fact that Saher de Say, who was later the founder of our family, possessed a surname, proves to some that he was of the Norman aristocracy, which fact is further confirmed by his possessing enough wealth to purchase and improve such extensive properties in each of the three Lothians in Scotland. For it is to be remembered that the aforesaid Saher de Say was a refugee from Normandy, who settled in the southern part of Scotland, taking part with his countrymen the Wallaces, Bruces, etc., in the almost continual wars between the different claimants for the crown of the latter country.

We learn that Picot Avenel de Say, one of our forbears, lived in Normandy under Robert, sixth duke of that country, about 1030. "He was a son of Robert de Say and Adelaid his wife, of the charter of Saint Martin of Seez, where he held no less than twenty-nine lordships. He was the ancestor of all the Says in England and Scotland, and probably of Jean Baptiste Leon Say in France, a noted statesman, Minister of Finance, etc., and was a baron of England under the Conqueror's reign. He also held the Castle of Marigny, with other possessions in Normandy, while he still continued, like many others, to be represented in both countries. He erected a church and a monastery in honor of Saint Giles within the boundaries of Camboritum, the relics of which are said to still exist."

CHAPTER VI.

DE SAY IN SCOTLAND.

"THE first appearance of de Say in Scotland was in the reign of Alexander I. (1107-1124), and it antedated by some years the peaceful invasion of the Anglo-Normans under his brother, David I. Then they came to the number of at least a thousand.

"The immediate cause of de Say's going to Scotland for a home was a dispute between a baron and his suzerain, something quite common in that turbulent age. Robert Fitz-Picot was Baron of Brunne, in Cambridgeshire, in 1068, where 'the moat of his castle and a few other traces of the buildings yet remain.' His oldest son, Robert Fitz-Picot, the viscount, forfeited the barony for rebellion against King Henry I., who granted it to Pain Peverill, said to be the husband of Robert's sister."

Had the result of the quarrel been different, who can say that de Say might not have remained in Normandy? Then there would have been no Sea-toun and consequently no Seatons.

The first of the great house of Seatoun established in Scotland was Saher de Say, as has been told. He had a grant of land in the Lothians, which was called in different histories Saytun, Saytoun, Seatoun, etc., all evidently meaning the home of Say, or, as is claimed by others, the home by the sea.

"This settlement gave rise to a name and family which became preeminently distinguished in the annals of Scotland," as Sir Bernard Burke puts it. The account continues:

"The knight or baron, having secured his grant of land, proceeded forthwith to build a castle and a church-both of rude material and ruder in architecture-a mill, a brew-house, and huts for the serfs, and thereby formed about himself a hamlet which, in the practice of the age, was called a "toun" of the owner. The place where Saher de Say settled is between Tranent

and the sea, about ten miles below Edinburgh, and it continued to be the principal home of his descendants for over six hundred years."

The son of Saher de Say is known in our family history as Dougall de Say-toun. His Christian name is unknown, as he was usually described by a familiar appellation of the people around him. The Normans wore a strong coat of mail, which made them objects of dread and wonder to the Britons, Picts, and Celts, in whose ancient songs they were called Dugall, the "Black Strangers," from the appearance they made when incased in armor. Dougall de Saytoun, then, literally means "The Black Stranger [lord] of the toun of Say." He flourished in the reign of Alexander I., A. D. 1107-1124, and married Janet, daughter of Robert de Quincy.

"SEHER DE SETOUNE succeeded to Dougall, his father." Just how or why the name was changed from Saytoun to Setoune is impossible to say, unless it was through an error of some recorder. "Whom he married I find not certainly in any register of the house," quaintly remarks Maitland. Seher de Setoune lived in the time of David I. (1124-1153).

"PHILIP DE SAYTOUN Succeeded to Seher, his father. He made a strong alliance by marrying Helen, only daughter of Waldeve, fifth Earl of Dunbar and March, by Aelina, his wife. Philip got a charter from King William, the Lion, in 1169, confirming to him certain lands, which remained in possession of his descendants for more than five hundred years.

"ALEXANDER (1) DE SETOUN succeeded his father Philip, who died in 1179. He married Jean, daughter of Walter Berkley or Barclay, chamberlain to the king-an office of great influence and dignity. He subscribed a charter given by Secher de Quincy, Earl of Winchester, in England, his kinsman, to the Church of Saint Mary of Newbattle in the thirteenth century, which is interesting because it contains the earliest mention of coal-mining in Scotland. . Sir Alexander died in 1211.”