Gospatric (sheriff of Roxburgh)

Gospatric is the first known sheriff of Roxburgh, a burgh in Teviotdale. His father is thought to have been Uhtred son of Ulfkill.^[1]

A Cospatricio vicecomite ("Gospatric the Sheriff") is mentioned in the foundation charter of Selkirk Abbey.^[2] The charter was issued by Earl David and probably dates to between either 1120 and 1121, or 1123 and 1124, though it could be as early as 1114.^[3]

A Gospatricus Vicecomes ("Gospatric the Sheriff") witnessed a grant by David, now king of Scotland, to Durham Cathedral Priory, sometime between April 1126 and March 1127.^[4]

He witnessed a grant of land in Roxburgh to the church of St John of the castle of Roxburgh sometime between 1124 and 1133.^[5] Although Archibald C. Lawrie was uncertain what sheriffdom Gospatric held, G. W. S. Barrow and Norman Reid believed it to be Roxburghshire because of this charter.^[6]

See also

• Thor of Tranent
• Máel Bethad of Liberton
• Máel Brigte of Perth

Notes

1. Reid & Barrow, Sheriffs, p. 37
2. Barrow, Charters of David, pp. 58—9; Lawrie, Early Scottish Charters, p. 28; Reid & Barrow, Sheriffs, p. 37
3. Barrow, Charters of David, p. 59
4. Barrow, Charters of David, pp. 69—70; Lawrie, Early Scottish Charters, p. 55
5. Barrow, Charters of David, pp. 74—5; Lawrie, Early Scottish Charters, p. 69
6. Lawrie, Early Scottish Charters, p. 278; Reid & Barrow, Sheriffs, p. 37

References

• Barrow, G. W. S., ed. (1999), The Charters of David I: The Written Acts of David King of Scots, 1124—53, and of his son Henry Earl of Northumberland, 1139—52, Woodbridge: Boydell Press, ISBN 0-85115-731-9
• Lawrie, Archibald Campbell, ed. (1905), Early Scottish Charters : Prior to A.D. 1153, Glasgow: J. MacLehose and sons
• Reid, Norman H.; Barrow, G. W. S., eds. (2002), The Sheriffs of Scotland : An Interim List to C.1306, St Andrews: University of St. Andrews Library [on behalf of] The Scottish Medievalists, ISBN 0-900897-17-1