GENEALOGY OF THE CUSHING FAMILY
(Online Version 2002)


EARLY CUSHING ANCESTORS



Mr. Cushing's manuscript is as follows:



"In the Scandinavian Sagas relating to the latter half of the Eighth Century-750-800, A.D.-which may be regarded as the period in which reliable Norse History begins, frequent mention may be found of the Viking Hrolf Nefja Jarl and his ancestors in Throndjem and the Maeras of Norway ; and in later centuries, of his descendants in Normandy and England as well.

According to these Sagas, and the earliest Norman accounts, Hrolf Nefja, (1), had at least one son Malahjulc, (2); and a daughter, Hild or Ragnhild The daughter married Rognvald Maera-Jarl, who, in return for assistance rendered by him to Harald (or Harold) Fair Hair, in the conquest of Norway, was made chief ruler over not only the two Maeras; but also Ramsdal. They had three sons and a daughter. The second son, Gongu Hrolf (Walking Rolt), became early a great Viking leader, especially in the East. Returning from one of his expeditions soon after Harald's conquest, he committed acts of depredation in Vikin. King Harald, who was then in Vikin, was very angry when he heard of this, for he had strictly forbidden robbery within his land. He therefore announced at a Thing that he made Hrolf an outlaw from Norway. When Hrolt's mother Hild heard this she went on behalf of her family to the King to ask for pardon for Hrolf; but the King was so angry that her prayers were of no avail. Hence Hrolf, accompanied by his uncle Malahjulc, as Councillor, and a numerous following of disaffected Hersirs sailed for the Hebrides; whence they made conquests, ultimately gaining from Valland (now France), about 912 A. D., the great Jarls' realm, known soon after as Normandi.




Thus Hrolf, so well known in later history as Rollo, became the founder and first Earl or Duke of Normandy, establishing, according to nearness of kin with his own and the families of his chief leaders, the great Ruda-jarls (or feudal nobility of Ruen), ancestors of the Sovereign families and Norman Barons of Normandy and England alike, in later centuries.

In this manner Malahjulc became possessed of Toesini and Conches ; and is referred to in old records as Malahulcinus de Toecsini (or Toecdini). He had issue Hugo de Toecsini, (3), who became lord of Cavalcamp in Nuestria, and had two sons, Ralf(4), and Hugo, Archbishop of Rouen, 942-980 . Hugo gave to his brother Raif the estates of Toesini, which descended therefore to his son Ralph(5) or Ranulf of Apulia: celebrated for his conquests of the latter and other places; and So, to Ralf (6) his son, who was appointed Castellan of Tillieres jointly with Nigel, Viscount of Coutances, in 1011. Ralf had issue, Roger de Toecsini, surnamed D'Espagne, on account of his prowess against the Saracens in Spain, progenitor of the DeToesinis, Hereditary Standard-bearers of Normandy, Barons of Toesini and Conches, and of Stafford and Belvoir in England, ancestors of the English houses of Cholmondeley Egerton, Grisley and others, and Hugh de Toecsini (7), (Brother of Roger de Espagne), surnamed de Limesi (Limesay) from his Norman Seigneurie. He was living in 1060. He had several sons who accompanied William the Conqueror (to whom they were related as nephews through their mother who was William the Conqueror's half-sister); among them were Ralf (8) and Baldrick, progenitor of Scottish Lindsays. William gave to Ralf the barony of Oxburg, or Oxenburg in Norfolk, and 41 other manors in several counties with the lands of Christina one of the sisters of Prince Edgar, whom Ralf married.



They had Ralf (9) who married Hadewise and had Alan (10), whose son Gerard (11) married Amy, (daughter of Trian de Hornelade of Bidun Limisi), whose son John married Alice, daughter of Robert of Harcourt, died in 1198 and left a son, Hugh, who is said to have died without issue some time after 1223. Through John's sister (and co-heir) part of the barony passed by marriage with David de Limisey to the Lindsays, or Lindseys of Scotland.

Ralf(12) surnamed Le Cusyn or Le Cosyn de Limisi is said to have been a younger son of Gerard, brother of John de Limisi, since he is found holding Choseley in the land party of England about this time, and since his arms, with merely a change of tincture, were the same as those of the de Limisis. From him were Roger (13) and Richard Cosyn, from one of whom (probably the former) Galfridus Cusyn was descended .

Galfridus, Gerard or Geoffrey Cusyn (14) was born in Norfolk County, England, in the latter part of the thirteenth century. He possessed estates in Hardingham, Norfolk County, for which in 1327 he was assessed to the King's subsidies, Edward First "