Roger (Crusader) MOWBRAY

                   1ST BARON MOWBRAY, CRUSADER
FOUNDED THE ABBEY AT NEWBURGH, FOUNDED THE GREAT LEPER HOSPITAL OF ST. LAZARUS OUTSIDE JERUSALEM
By the royal command of Henry I, Roger changed his name to Montbray, which evolved into Mowbray. He owned vast tracts of land, but preferred to live at Thirsk Castle in Yorkshire in the area still known as the Vale of Mowbray. He was a generousbenefactor to the church, founding the Abbey at Newburgh. In war, he was one of the commanders against the Scots at the Battle of the Standard in 1138. Supporting King Stephen over Empress Maud, he was captured at the Battle of Lincoln in 1141.In 1146, he joined King Louis VII of France in a Crusade to the Holy Land and became renowned for defeating a hardy Pagan in single combat. In 1174, Roger joined Henry II's sons in rebellion against their father, urged on by their mother Eleanorof Aquitaine. The rebellion failed, Roger regained Henry's favor, but his castles in Yorkshire were destroyed. The Mowbrays then made Axholme in Lincolnshire the seat of their power. In 1176, the old warrior went on Crusade again, was capturedand ransomed by the Knights Templar, and apparently died on the way home. He was buried in Byland Abbey.
THE MOWBRAYS are a branch of the D'Aubignys/Albini's and originated from Saint Martin d'Aubigny in France.
THIRSK, in the Vale of Mowbray in North Yorkshire, is a small market town 9 mi. from Northallerton, 11 mi. from Boroughbridge and 23 mi. from York.
THE BATTLE OF LINCOLN, 1141:
Matilda's army defeated and captured King Stephen at the battle of Lincoln. Stephen was held captive until September when Matilda's forces were beaten at Winchester.