Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Musgrave, Thomas (d.1384)
MUSGRAVE, THOMAS, Baron Musgrave (d. 1384), was son of Thomas Musgrave. He represented Westmoreland in parliament from 1341 to 1344 (Return of Members of Parliament, i. 135-40), and was present at the battle of Nevill's Cross on 17 Oct. 1346. In January 1347 he gave an indenture for the custody of Berwick (Cal. of Documents relating to Scotland, iii. 1477). On 20 July 1352 he was directed to arrest robbers in the marches of Scotland. On 4 Oct. 1353 he had a license to crenellate Harca, which had been often destroyed by the Scots, and on 3 March 1359 was appointed to arrest Maria, daughter of William Douglas (ib. iii. 1564, 1572, iv. 45). In 1359 he was sheriff of Yorkshire and custos of York Castle, and in 1368 and subsequent years escheator for Yorkshire, Northumberland, Cumberland, and Westmoreland. In November 1373 he was appointed warden of Berwick for one year, with an allowance of four hundred marks, an appointment that was afterwards extended to November 1378. In the early part of 1377 Berwick was captured by the Scots. Musgrave took part in the operations for its recovery under Henry Percy, earl of Northumberland. On the conclusion of the siege the English invaded Scotland, and the Earls of Northumberland and Nottingham detached a body of three hundred lances and as many archers under the command of Musgrave to occupy Melrose. Two squires, whom Musgrave sent out to reconnoitre, were taken by the Scots, who then endeavoured to surprise him at Melrose. Bad weather prevented their purpose ; but Musgrave, on learning of their approach through his foragers, rode out to meet them on 27 Aug. The Scots were three to one, and after a hard fight the English were defeated, and Musgrave and his son taken prisoners. This is the account given by Froissart; the St. Albans chronicler simply states that Musgrave, during a raid into Scotland, fell into an ambush and was taken prisoner (Chron. Angliæ, 1328-88, pp. 165-6). Musgrave was released under security in January 1378, but on failing to surrender the Earl of March in May forfeited his bail. Eventually a thousand marks was advanced by John Neville for his ransom and that of his son ; this sum was still unpaid on 5 March 1382, when a distress was levied on the Musgraves in consequence. Musgrave was summoned to parliament from 25 Nov. 1350 to 4 Oct. 1373, but the summons was not continued to his descendants. He died in 1384 (Foster, Visitation Pedigrees of Cumberland and Westmoreland). He married Isabella, daughter of Thomas, lord Berkeley, and widow of Robert Clifford. His son Thomas was knighted by him before the fight with the Scots in 1377. Musgrave was ancestor of the Musgraves of Edenhall, Cumberland [see under Musgrave, Sir Philip], Hayton, and Tourin, co. Waterford, on which families baronetcies were conferred in 1611, 1638, and 1782 respectively.
[Froissart, vii. 37–58, ed. Buchon; Calendar of Documents relating to Scotland, vols. iii. and iv.; Dugdale's Baronage, ii. 153; Burke's Dormant and Extinct Peerage, p. 390; Nicolson and Burn's Westmoreland and Cumberland, i. 590–9, ii. 155 sqq.; Visitation Pedigrees of Cumberland and Westmoreland.]