William Dacre, 3rd Baron Dacre facts for kids
William Dacre, 7th Baron Greystock, later 3rd Baron Dacre of Gilsland (born around 1493 – died November 18, 1563) was an important English nobleman. He owned a lot of land in Cumberland and held many important jobs for the King or Queen of England. One of his main roles was serving for many years as the Warden of the West Marches, which meant he was in charge of protecting the border between England and Scotland.
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Early Life and Family
William Dacre was the son of Thomas Dacre, 2nd Baron Dacre. His mother was Elizabeth Greystoke. William inherited the title of Baron Greystock from his mother in 1516. Later, in 1525, he inherited the title of Baron Dacre from his father.
When he became Baron Dacre, William also inherited a lot of land. This included about 70,000 acres (283 square kilometers) in Cumberland, 30,000 acres (121 square kilometers) in Yorkshire, and 20,000 acres (81 square kilometers) in Northumberland.
William Dacre married Lady Elizabeth Talbot sometime between 1519 and 1527. Elizabeth was the daughter of George Talbot, 4th Earl of Shrewsbury. She was still alive in 1552.
Important Roles and Responsibilities
William Dacre held many important positions during his life. These jobs often involved protecting England's borders and managing royal lands.
Protecting the Borders
From 1527 to 1534, and again from 1549 until his death in 1563, William Dacre was the Warden of the West Marches. This was a very important job. The Warden was responsible for defending the western part of the border between England and Scotland. They also kept peace and order in the area.
He also served as the Warden of the Middle Marches from 1553 to 1555. This role covered another part of the border with Scotland.
Other Key Positions
William Dacre was the Captain of Norham Castle from 1522 to 1523. This castle was an important fortress near the Scottish border.
He was also the Steward of Penrith. A steward managed the lands and affairs of a specific area for the Crown. From 1549 to 1551, he was the Governor of Carlisle. Carlisle was a key city and fortress in Cumberland.
A Difficult Time
In 1534, William Dacre faced a serious challenge. He was accused of a very serious crime against the King. He was held in the Tower of London for a time. However, he was found not guilty after a trial in Westminster Hall in July 1534. Even though he was acquitted, he had to pay a large amount of money as a penalty.
Later Life and Legacy
In June 1528, William Dacre wrote a letter from London. He mentioned that he had been on a special journey to Canterbury Cathedral. During this trip, he had an accident and broke his left arm after falling from his horse.
William Dacre passed away in 1563. He was buried at Carlisle Cathedral. His eldest son, Thomas Dacre, 4th Baron Dacre, inherited his titles and lands.
William and Elizabeth Dacre had several children:
- Anne Dacre (died around July 1581)
- Dorothy Dacre
- Thomas Dacre, 4th Baron Dacre (around 1526 – 1566)
- Leonard Dacre (around 1527 – August 12, 1573)
- Edward Dacre (around 1528 – 1584)
- Francis Dacre (around 1529 – February 19, 1633)
- Magdalen Dacre (1538 – around 1608)
