"Willielmus de Meschines et Cecilia uxor mea" founded Bolton Priory by undated charter. "Cecilia de Romeli" donated property to Bolton Priory by undated charter which names "gener meus Willielmus nepos regis Scotiæ Duncani". "Willielmus de Meschines et Cecilia uxor mea" founded Bolton Priory by undated charter. "Willielmus filius Ranulphi" confirmed the foundation of St Bee's priory, Cumberland by undated charter, dated to [1105/20], which refers to donations by himself and "uxoris meæ eciliæ…concessione Ranulphi filii mei". Her children by her first marriage used the name Rumilly. Domesday Descendants notes that Cecily de Rumilly married as her second husband "Henry de Tracy of Barnstaple", without citing the corresponding primary source, but adds that "there is no evidence to suggest that she was the mother of Henry de Tracy's heir Oliver". 1
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II. CECILY DE RUMILLY. [continued from notes under her father Robert de Rumilly.]
As shown above there is good evidence that Robert de Rumilly was her father, from whom she inherited Skipton, Harewood and lands in other counties. She married, first, William Meschin, lord of Copeland, and, secondly, Henry de Tracy.
William Meschin, her first husband, was a younger son of Ranulf, vicomte of the Bessin, by Maud sister of Hugh, vicomte of the Avranchin and earl of Chester, and so a younger brother of Ranulf Meschin, who became earl of Chester in 1120...
The descent of the Rumilly lands in Dorset and Devon shows that William Meschin held them in right of his wife. It is reasonably certain that it was in her right that he held the honour of Skipton and its lands in Yorkshire, and probably also Harewood with many manors in Wharfedale....
... Henry de Tracy, second husband of Cecily de Rumilly, whom he married not earlier than 1135, can probably be identified as Henry de Tracy, the Devon baron... With Cecily his wife he issued two confirmation charters to Embsay priory.
In addition to Cecily's charters ... she issued a charter to Embsay priory making a gift of her mills of Harewood. There is insufficient evidence to determine the date of her death. She was certainly alive after the marriage of Alice her daughter to William son of Duncan, and there is some evidence to suppose that she was alive in 1151. She cannot have survived as late as 1155. 2
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Cecily de Rumilly and William Meschin were two of the most powerful magnates in the north and, therefore, it is not surprising that they wished to demonstrate their standing not only by supporting religious houses with gifts, but also by the foundation of monasteries, such as that of Embsay. A notification to Archbishop Thurstan regarding the gift of the churches of Holy Trinity, Skipton, St. Andrew, Kildwick, and Harewood states that Cecily was the daughter of 'R. Rumill'', while William, her lord and husband, was the son of 'Ran'', these being Robert de Rumilly and Ranulf Meschin respectively. 3
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