William Russell

Sir William Russell (1257–1311) was an English nobleman, knight, and holder of a moiety of the feudal barony of North Cadbury, Somerset, but spent most of his life engaged in the administration and defence of the Isle of Wight, where he obtained by marriage the manor of Yaverland. He served as constable of Carisbrooke Castle, and sat in parliament on two occasions, firstly as burgess for Great Bedwyn, Wiltshire, and then for the County of Southampton. As a baron his military service was called on several times by King Edward I Hammer of the Scots. Origin William Russell was the third son and eventual heir of Sir Ralph Russell (b. 1204), son of Sir John Russell (d. c. 1224) of Kingston Russell, Dorset, steward of Kings John (1199–1216) and his young son Henry III (1216–1272). Shortly before his death King John had granted Russell the manor of Kingston by grand serjeanty, which grant was confirmed by Henry. William had inherited from his mother Isabel de Newmarch a moiety of the Newmarch barony of North Cadbury, and it was this holding per baroniam which, although the other half had gone to Nicholas de Moels, the husband of Isabel's sister Hawise de Newmarch, nevertheless brought him membership of the baronage, with all the onerous duties which accompanied such a dignity. Marriage to Katherine de Aula In about 1280 William married Katherine de Aula, heiress of the de Aula family of the Isle of Wight, who brought to the Russell family the manor of Yaverland, Isle of Wight.