FlemingClans.com

Baldwin the Fleming, 1st of Biggar
(c1111 - after 1174)
Basic information about this person: \click here\

Baldwin the Fleming, grandson of Erchenbald, served great lords in England and France before settling in Scotland, where he founded the lordship of Biggar and became Sheriff of Lanark. His descendants held Biggar for five generations before it passed to the Flemings through his heiress Marjory.

Early life in England

Baldwin was born around 1111, a son of Stephen Flandrensis and grandson of Erchenbald the Fleming. His brothers were Erchenbald le Fleming, first Baron of Slane, and Robert. He may have become a ward of King Henry I in 1118, and around 1129 he and his brother Erchenbald witnessed charters in Cornwall and Somerset. In 1130 he was excused a fine of ten marks of silver.

In the service of great lords

By 1135 Baldwin was a knight in the household of Waleran de Beaumont, Count of Meulan, and in 1138 he went with Waleran on an embassy to King Louis VII of France in Paris. By 1141 he had joined the household of Alan of Brittany, 1st Earl of Richmond, and he witnessed charters of Alan in 1145 and of his son Conan IV in 1146, the second as “Baldewin of Moulton”.

Sheriff of Lanark

Around 1147 Baldwin moved to Scotland and settled at Biggar in Lanarkshire, one of many Flemish knights encouraged north by King David I. From about 1147 to 1164 he was Sheriff of Lanark, and he appears in charters as Baldwino de Bigir, Baldwino Flam’ and Baldewino vicecomite, “Baldwin the sheriff”. He is traditionally associated with the Gillespie motte, the earthwork castle at Biggar.

Baldwin fought at the Battle of Renfrew in 1164, where Somerled, Lord of the Isles, was defeated and killed. Between 1165 and 1173 he witnessed the foundation charter of Paisley Abbey by Walter fitz Alan, the High Steward, and in 1173, as Sheriff of Lanark, he granted the church of Inverkip to the abbey. He also held land of Walter fitz Alan and granted land at Kilpeter to Hugh of Pettinain.

Family and legacy

Baldwin married the widow of Reginald fitz Alan and was stepfather to her son John fitz Reginald. His own children included Waltheof, 2nd of Biggar, Peter, and a daughter. Baldwin died after 1174 and was buried at Biggar. His descendant Nicholas of Biggar left the barony to his daughter Marjory, whose marriage to Gilbert Fleming brought Biggar to the Flemings.