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was a nun. Alice became the wife of Roger de Merlay the I,[1] son of the Founder of Newminster Abbey in the County of Northumberland (1137). Roger de Merlay was succeeded by a second Roger, and he again by a third Roger, who had two daughters, Mary, who became the wife of William de Graystoke, and Isabel, who was married (1274–5) to Robert de Somerville, of Wichnor, in Co. Stafford. Burton Agnes thus came to the Somerville family, while the Northumberland property went mostly to William and Mary de Graystoke. Robert and Isabella had two sons Sir Roger and Philip.[2] These two sons appear to have died without male issue. Roger de Somerville founded the chantry of the Blessed Virgin in Burton Agnes Church in 1314. There is a licence[3] in Mortmain to Roger de Somervyle for a fine of 40 shillings to grant two messuages, two bovates, sixteen acres of land and a rent of twenty loads of turf in Burton and Thyrnom to a Chaplain who shall celebrate service daily at the altar of the Blessed Mary in Burton Agnes Church, for the soul of the said Roger, for the souls of Maude, late his wife, deceased and of his father and mother, brothers and sisters, ancestors and relatives, and for the souls of John de Eure, and of all faithful deceased, dated 17th October, 7 Edw. II (1313). In 1317 he obtained licence to translate the body of his wife Maude to the "new ala adjoyning the Church of Burton Annays." His tomb is against the north wall of this chantry.
His name appears in the proffers of service for the Scottish war made at the muster at Carlisle in 1300.[4] In 1315 he appears among the knights summoned by Archbishop Greenfield to a Council of War at Doncaster, and in 1318 he made an agreement with Archbishop Melton to furnish the contingent required of the Archbishop for service in Scotland.[5]
