As part of my continuing exploration into the peers in the English Pierrepont family, I have come across and interesting book. The full title of this book, in the tradition of books at the time, is quite imposing.
“DORMANT AND
EXTINCT BARONAGE OF ENGLAND, or, An Historical and Genealogical Account of the
Lives, Public Employments, and Most Memorable Actions of the English Nobility
who have flourished from the Norman Conquest to the Year 1809: deduced from
public records, ancient historians, the works of eminent heralds, and from
other celebrated and approved authorities.”
This massive
book was published in 1809 by T[homas] C[hristopher] Banks. Interestingly, the
Pierrepont family is not found alphabetically under the letter P as one might
expect. Rather, since all the members of the family were also Earl/Duke of
Kingston, they are found under the entry for Kingston. Below I have replicated
the entirety of that section, including the accompanying charts. While much of
this information can also be found in the prior blogs I have posted on this
topic (see here and here), what I find interesting is the comments on the lives
of some of these individuals.
For example,
at one point Henry comes into the building and announces that he lost his seal
so that if there are any documents which later contain that impression they are
invalid. Also, Robert was so loved by the commoners which he oversaw that they
called him the “Good Earl of Kingston”. These looks into the personalities of
the individuals makes them much more real than just a bunch of titles and
genealogical connections.
In the very
last paragraph is a reference to Miss Chudleigh and the “peculiar
circumstances” of her marriage. I’ll be posting separately about that subject.
So, without
further ado, here is the entry for the Kingston Earls and Dukes that were
created for the Pierrepont family. The only thing I have changed in retyping
this is to replace occurrences of the letter “f” where it is used for
non-terminating instances of the letter “s” so that it is more readable.
KINGSTON
ARMS – Arg. Semee of Conquefoils G. a
Lion rampant S.
THOUGH the family of Pierrepont did
not arrive to the dignity of peerage till of late years, yet it has made a
considerable figure ever since the time of the conquest. Of which name
ROBERT DE PIERREPONT was of the
retinue of earl Warren; and, according to the French genealogy, is said to have
been one of the commanders in the army of the Conqueror. This Robert is handed
down as great grandfather to [footnote here that Edmonson, in his Baronagium Genealogicum,
makes him grandson, but Collins states him as son and heir of Robert de
Pierrepoint.]
WILLIAM DE PIERREPONT, who had issue
two sons, Simon and Robert; where of the former died S.P. leaving the said
ROBERT, his brother and heir; who,
at the battle of Lewes, was on the part of Henry III and was there taken
prisoner, whereby he was put to 700 marks fine for his ransom; a great sum in
those days.
Sir HENRY DE PIERREPONT, his son (or
grandson), married Annora, daughter to Michael, and sister and heir to Lionel
de Manvers; whereby he acquired a considerable inheritance in Nottinghamshire,
and the lordship of Holme, now called Holme Pierrepont. In the 8th
Edward I it is recorded of him, that he came into chancery, then at Lincoln,
and publicly declared that he had lost his seal; and that if any instrument was
sealed with it after that day, it ought to be invalid. He deceased circ. 20th
Edward I having had issue by the said Annora, two sons, Simon and Robert. Of
which,
SIMON was one of those who, the 22d
Edward I had summons among the barons of the realm, to attend the king upon
certain weighty affairs of the realm. But he died, leaving only daughter,
Sibilla, who married Edmund Ufford, whereby his brother Robert, was his next
heir male. Which
ROBERT, during the reigns of Edward
I, II, III was a person of great eminence, and repeatedly in the wars of
Scotland, where he served with great honour. The 1st of Edward III
he had summons to parliament among the barons of the realm; and having married
Sarah, daughter, and at length heir, of Sir John Heriz, knight, died, leaving
HENRY, his son and heir, from whom
after many descents, was
ROBERT PIERREPONT, who was strongly
attached to the interest of that unhappy monarch, Charles I, by whom he was
created, in 1627, baron Pierrepont, of Holme Pierrepont, and viscount Newark,
both in com. Notts; and, the year following, was advanced to the dignity of
earl of Kingston upon Hull, in Yorkshire.
So eminent was this nobleman for his
acts of charity, hospitality, and munificence, that he was usually styled by
the common people, the Good Earl of Kingston: and such was his influence in
consequence thereof, and of his great estate, that he is said to have brought
4000 men to the royal standard on the breaking out of the civil war; of whom,
2000 were able and willing to serve him with their persons, and the rest with
arms and money.
This popularity rendered him
particularly obnoxious to the parliament; whose general, the lord Willoughby of
Parham, surprised and made him prisoner at Gainsborough, from which he was
sent, in an open boat, toward Hull. But Sir Charles Cavendish pursuing the
boat, and coming up with it, demanded the surrender of the earl; which being
refused, his men fired upon the boat and unhappily killed his lordship, and his
servant; though they took the boat, and put the crew to the sword, 30th
July, 1643.
He married Gertrude, daughter and
coheir to Henry Talbot, a younger son of George earl of Shrewsbury, and had
issue six sons; [footnote:
Of the five younger sons of this nobleman, William, the second, married
Elizabeth, daughter and coheir of Sir Thomas Harris, of Tong Castle, in
Shropshire, and had a numerous issue. Whereof, Robert, the eldest son, married
a daughter and coheir of Sir John Evelyn, who became first duke of Kingston;
and also Gervase, his youngest son, who was created, in 1714, baron Pierrepont,
of Hanslope. This William was one of the leading members in the house of
commons during the civil war; but was always against violent measures, and
industrious to reconcile the unhappy differences of the times. Among the
valuable collection of this gentleman’s paper and MSS, which were consumed in
the fire at Thoresby, in 1746, were the original minutes and papers relating to
the treaties with Charles I at Uxbridge, and in the Isle of Wight. He survived
the restoration; and died in 1679.] viz. Henry, William, Francis, Robert, Gervase, and George;
also three daughters; of which Frances married Philip Rolleston, esquire; Mary
died young; and Elizabeth, unmarried.
HENRY, second earl of Kingston, in
1645, was created marquis of Dorchester. Though his attachment to the king was
firm and steady, yet the effect of it was limited to supplies in money; whereby
he avoided the censure of the parliamentary party. He was a very studious
nobleman, and very learned, particularly in law and physic; but there are no
specimens of his talents, excepting a few speeches on different occasions, and
a letter to John lord Roos, his son-in-law, in relation to the controversy
carried on between him and his daughter, concerning the legality of
parliamentary divorces. His lordship was twice married: by his first wife,
daughter of Paul viscount Banning, he had a son, Robert, who died an infant;
and two daughters, where of Anne married John lord Roos, after earl of Rutland,
from whom she was divorced; and Grace died unmarried. His second lady was
daughter of James earl of Derby; and by her he had one son, Henry, who died in
his infancy. Having no surviving male issue, and deceasing in 1680, the title
of marquis of Dorchester became extinct, but that of earl of Kingston descended
to his great nephew.
ROBERT, grandson and heir of
William, his second brother; which Robert died unmarried, in 1682, at Dieppe,
in France, as he was on his travels, and was succeeded by his brother,
WILLIAM, who enjoyed the title about
eight years; and then having no issue by Anne his wife, daughter of Robert lord
Brooke, transmitted the same to his next brother and heir,
Francis, third son, married
Elizabeth, daughter and coheir of Thomas Bray, of Eyam, in com. Derby, esquire;
and having built a fair fest at Nottingham, died in 1657.
Robert, fourth son, died without
issue, and unmarried; as did
Gervase, fifth son, at Haerlem, in
Holland, in 1678-9; the probate of whose will bears date 13th
February, 1678-9, whereby he bequeathed £10,000 to the first person of his
family who should obtain the honour and title of a duke.
George, the sixth and youngest son,
was seated at Old Cotes, in Derbyshire, and married a sister to Sir Samuel
Jones, of Corthen-Hall, in Northamptonshire; by whom he had two sons, Henry and
Samuel, who both died unmarried.
EVELYN, who, the 23d of December,
1706, was created marquis of Dorchester, with remainder to his uncle Gervase
lord Pierrepont, of Hanslope; and on the 20th July, 1715, was
advanced to the rank and dignity of duke of Kingston. Moreover, in 1719, he was
elected a knight of the garter; and in such estimation and favour was he at
court, that he was four times appointed one of the lords justices whilst his
majesty went to Hanover. His grace married, first, Mary, daughter to William
earl of Denbigh; by who he had an only son, William, who died before him, and
three daughters. His second wife was Isabella, daughter of William earl of
Portland; which lady brought him two daughters, namely, Catherine (or
Carolina), married to Thomas Brand, of Fyfield, in Essex, esquire; and Anne,
who died unmarried. And dying in March, 1725-6, he was succeeded by his
grandson, Evelyn, only son and heir of William, his eldest son beforenamed.
Which
EVELYN, second duke of Kingston, was
also a knight of the garter; and on breaking out of the rebellion, in 1745, was
among the first of those noblemen who evinced their attachment to the family on
the throne, by raising regiments to assist his majesty’s forces in the subduing
thereof. But notwithstanding this instance of zeal for the maintenance of the
order of things as established at the Revolution, his grace did not concern
himself with matters of state. He is said to have been endowed with many virtues,
humanity in particular; an open, ingenuous, manly frankness, with candour,
generosity, and courage. His grace married Miss Chudleigh, one of the maids of
honour to the late dowager princess of Wales; a marriage of which it is here
unnecessary to speak, inasmuch as the peculiar circumstances attending it, are
to be found at large in the records of the State Trials. Having no issue, the
honours of this house became extinct with the death of the duke, in 1773.
[Charts]
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