Baron Scales is a title in the Peerage of England.

Contents 1 Origins 1.1 Robert de Scales 1.2 Peter de Scales 1.3 Robert de Scales 2 History of the Barony 3 Residences 4 Barons Scales (1299) 5 References

[edit] Origins

According to Morant, the de Scales family were descendants of a Norman called Scaliers^[1] who came to England with William the Conqueror in 1066.^[2] However, definitive evidence for this needs to be found; another family living in Cambridgeshire, Huntingdonshire and Bedfordshire went by the name of "de Scalariis" whereas the family of the Baron Scales lived mainly in Essex, Norfolk and Herts and were spelled "de Scales" (or de Schales or de Escales). No connection has been found between the two families so far, but they have often been confused by scribes, etc.

References to possible early members of this family include:-

• 1166 Sir Ricardus de Scialis at Husseburne (Suffolk?)^[3]
• 1211-12 Sir Radulphus de Escalis at Dover Castle^[3]
• 1211-12 Sir Rogerus de Scalis^[3]

[edit] Robert de Scales

The ancestors of the Baron Scales came into possession of the manors of Newsells, Hertfordshire and Rivenhall, Essex in 1255 by the marriage of Sir Robert de Scales to Alice de Rochester (or de Roffa/Rossa), whose family had held the manors since 1210. Robert died in 1256.

Robert is probably the same Robert as mentioned in some, or all, of the following references:-

• 1232-33 Sir Robert de Scales lord of the manors of Bedenested and Scolegh in Essex, Parva Willington in Kent and Lynne, Middelton and Ilsington in Norfolk.^[4]
• 1242-43 Sir Robert de Scales lord of the manors of Parva Wilmynton in Kent, Wilton, Hocwolde, Herdwic and Nudebonve in Norfolk, Wetherden and Wridelincton in Suffolk^[4]

It is worth noting that there were places referred to as the "Manor of Scales" in both Parva Wilmynton in Kent^[3] and in Norfolk.^[5] It is possible that they were named after the Scales family or even that the Scales family originated from one of them.

[edit] Peter de Scales

Robert's eldest son who inherited his father's lands but died shortly afterwards in 1258.

[edit] Robert de Scales

Peter's younger brother who inherited their father's lands upons Peter's death in 1258. Robert was involved in several expeditions to France and had summons to Parliament. He was listed at Dover Castle from 1261-2, as was a Sir Radulfus de Escales^[4]. Upon Robert's death in 1266 he was succeeded by his son Robert, who he had by his wife Muriel, and who was to become the first of the Baron Scales. Left a widow called Clemencia^[5]

[edit] History of the Barony

The Scales barony was created in 1299 by writ for Robert de Scales.

The last known holders were Elisabeth Wydville and her husband Anthony Woodville, 2nd Earl Rivers. After Elisabeth's death in 1473, Anthony was summoned in her right. Anthony was beheaded by Richard III at Pontefract on 24 Jun 1483 and the peerage fell into abeyance.

Several people have subsequently tried to claim the title, one as recently as the 1800s, but none have been successful.

[edit] Residences

The Scales family's main residences were Middleton in Norfolk, Newsells in Hertfordshire and Rivenhall in Essex but also held other lands including Ouresby and Torneton in Lincolnshire.^[5].

[edit] Barons Scales (1299)

• Robert de Scales, 1st Baron Scales (d. 1304)
• Sir Robert de Scales, 2nd Baron Scales (d. 1324)
• Sir Robert de Scales, 3rd Baron Scales (d. 1369)
• Sir Roger de Scales, 4th Baron Scales (d. 1386)
• Lord Robert de Scales, 5th Baron Scales (d. 1402)
• Robert de Scales, 6th Baron Scales (d. 1418)
• Lord Thomas de Scales, 7th Baron Scales (d. 1460)
• Lady Elizabeth de Scales Woodville, Baroness Scales (d. 2 September 1473)

[edit] References