From Essex England to the Sunny Southern USA

by: Robert E. Harris

Chapter 7
OUR OTHER ENGLISH AND EUROPEAN
ANCESTORS AND RELATIVES

Pages 909-925

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The story of our English ancestry is not complete without including the ancestries of at least three of our English "great" grandmothers.

These are: Alice Smythe, wife of Sir William Harris of Creeksea and the mother of our
immigrant ancestor, John Harris; Dorothy Waldegrave, wife of Arthur Harris who died in
1597 and the mother of Sir William Harris of Creeksea; and Johanna Percy, wife of Arthur Harris, who was born about 1476 and the great-grandmother of Sir William Harris of Creeksea.

The two latter "great-grandmothers" have family ties into the Norman Kings of Englan­d. For the purpose of constructing a proper foundation for those ties, we will begin that part by showing such lineages from their earlier roots.

Will begin with the ancestry of Lady Alice Smythe Harris. This writer is especially grateful to a friend and kinsman for his assistance in this part. The re­search for the ancestry of Lady Alice Smythe Harris was done by Luther Pryor Harris (d125/5176/13) of Seminole, Florida.

References:

1.   Family charts by Luther Pryor Harris.

2.   15th Edition, Encyclopedia Britannica - 1975.

3.   Virginia Settlers and English Adventurers, 3 Vols. in one, by Currer-Briggs.

4.   Historical Families of Southern United States, Vol. 10, Pgs. 164-165, by John Boddie.

5.   The Genesis of the United States, Vols. 1 and 2, by Alexander Brown. Vol. 1, pp. 465-469.

The Ancestry of Lady Alice Smythe Harris

1.   Sir Andrew Judd; b. 1490-92; d. 1558.

Andrew was born at Tonbridge (about 40 miles from London) in Kent County, England. He was the son of Margaret Chichle of Canterbury and John Judd (also spelled Judde). Andrew, at the age of 17 years, moved to London and worked in the fur trade. He served an eight year apprenticeship and worked as a stapler, skinner and merchant in London and in Calais (Calais, on the continent, was then a part of England).

Andrew was quite successful in the London business arena and in public service. He served as; Mayor of the Staple, Master of the Skinners Company, Sheriff of London and Alderman of London. He made his home in the Bishopsgate community of London.

Andrew served as Lord Mayor of London in the years 1550-51. After serving as Mayor, Andrew was knighted by King Edward VI, (son of King Henry VIII).

Sir Andrew Judd aspired to build a free grammar school for the youth of his hometown, Tonbridge. He secured a charter from King Edward VI for that purpose in 1553. The school which he built in Tonbridge is still in existence serving the young people of England.

Andrew married Mary Matthews. After Mary's death, Andrew married a second time, and, also, a third time. Andrew is buried at St. Helens Church, Bishopsgate, in London.

      Children of Mary Matthews and Sir Andrew Judd:

A.           Martha Judd; b. c. 1522; d. c. 1578. Martha married Robert Golding.

B.            Alice Judd; b. c. 1525.

Alice married Thomas Smythe (b. 1520; d. 1591).

Thomas was best known as Mr. Customer Smythe of Ostenhanger (now Westenhanger), Kent. His parents were Joan Brounckner, a daughter of Robert Brounckner of Melkshan, and her husband, John Smythe, Esquire (d. 1538), of Corsham, County Wiltshire.

Thomas was appointed by Queen Elizabeth I to be her "Collector of the Queen's Majesties Subsidy for tonnage and poundage, and farmer for the Custome and Subsidy inwards". From this office, he received his nickname, "Customer".

Thomas Smythe constructed the central part of Corsham Court, in Wiltshire, in 1582. This edifice, which exists today, was sold by Thomas' son, Henry Smythe, on June 21, 1602 to the Methuen family.

The children of Alice Judd and Thomas Customer Smythe:

a.               Andrew Smythe; died as a infant.

b.               Sir John Smythe; d. 1609.

c.    Sir Henry Smythe.

d.               Sir Richard Smythe; d. 1628.

e.               Robert Smythe.

f.                 Simon Smythe; d. 1596.

g.               Sir Thomas Smythe; b. 1558; d. September 4, 1625.

h.               Mary Smythe. Mary married Robert Davys.

i.                   Ursula Smythe. Ursula married Simon Harding.

j.     Jane Smythe. Jane married Sir Thomas Fanshawe.

            k. Catherine Smythe. Catherine married Sir Roland Hayward.

            l. Elizabeth Smythe. Elizabeth married Sir Henry Fanshawe.

           m. Alice Smythe; d. 1616. Alice married Sir William Harris of Creeksea.

The Smythes are interred at St. Marys Church at Ashford, England. Some of their tombs are ornated by statues of them.

Sir Thomas Smythe; b. 1558; d. September 4, 1625.

Thomas was the brother of Lady Alice Smythe Harris and the brother in law of Sir William Harris of Creeksea Place. Thomas was born in Ostenhanger (now Westenhanger) in Kent. Thomas was skilled as an English entrepreneur and statesman. He accumulated a considerable fortune from commerce.

Thomas was a key participant in the establishment and maintenance of the Virginia Colony in North America. Thomas led in numerous trade ventures and voyages of exploration during the early part of the seventeenth century. He financed the search for a northwest sea route from North America to the Orient.

Thomas was an active member of the London Haberdashers and Skinners Companies. He was an organizer in 1600, and, except for the period 1606-07, served as governor of the East India Company until 1621. He served as governor of the Muscovy and French Companies. He was special Ambassador for King James to the Tsar of Russia in 1604-05. Thomas was knighted in 1603 by King James I.

Sir Thomas obtained the Charter of the Virginia Company (of London) in 1609 and was Treasurer until 1618 when charges of embezzlement, later proved to be false, forced his resignation. His labor, perseverance and money were largely responsible for the success of the Virginia Colony.

As governor of the Somers Islands (Bermuda) Company, organized in 1615, Thomas devel­oped the Bermuda Islands with close economic and political ties to Virginia. He was also a major promoter of voyages to find a Northwest Passage to the Orient. Smith Sound (between Ellesmere Island and Greenland) was named in his honor, by its dis­coverer, William Baffin, in 1616.

The picture of Sir Thomas Smythe is included herein.

This writer is especially grateful to a friend and kinswoman, Mrs. Franceine Perry Rees (d121/3411/1111/1) of Greenville, North Carolina, for sharing with the writer her research into the lineage of Dorothy Waldegrave, wife of Arthur Harris (d. June 18, 1597) and mother of Sir William Harris of Creeksea.

References:

1.               Research furnished by Franceine Perry Rees.

2.               The Plantagenet Ancestry of King Edward III and Queen Philippa, by George Andrew Moriarty.

3.               The Plantagenet Ancestry, by W. H. Turton.

4.        History and Antiquities of Essex and the History of the County of Essex, both by Morant.

5.               Visitation of Suffolk.

6.               Visitation of Essex.

Views of Corsham in Wiltshire on May 22, 1993. Thomas Customer Smythe built the
central portion of this edifice in 1582. It is owned now by the Methuen family.

Photos by Luther P. Harris.

The Ancestry of Dorothy Waldegrave Harris

1.               Charlemagne, King of the Franks, was born on 2 April 747 and died on 28 January, 813/4. He married (probably, his third) Hildegarde, daughter of Count Geroud of Swabia. She died on 30 April 783. (Ref: Moriarty, p. 5; Turton, p. 112.)

2.               Pepin, King of Italy and Lombardy, was born on 12 April 781 and died on 8 July 810 at Milan. He was baptized at Rome by Pope Adrian I. (Ref: Moriarty, p. 5; Turton, p. 112.)

3.               Bernard, King of Italy, was born in 797 and died on 17 April 818 at Milan. (Ref; Moriarty, p. 5; Turton, p. 112).

4.               Pepin, Count of Senlis, Peronne and St. Quentin, was born in 817/8 and died after 840. (Ref: Moriarty, p. 5; Turton, p. 112.)

5.               Herbert I de Vermandois, Count of Vermandois, Siegneur of Senlis, Peronne and St. Quentin, was born ca. 840 and died ca. 902. He married Beatrice de Morvois' (Ref: Moriarty, p. 6; Turton, p. 112.)

6.   Herbert II, Count of Vermandois and Troyes, was born 880-890 and died ca. 943 at St. Quentin. He married Hildebrante (Liegarde), daughter of Robert I, Duke of France. (Ref: Moriarty, p. 5; Turton, p. 112.)

7.   Albert I, the Pious, Count of Vermandois, was born in 920 and died in 987/8. He married Gerberga of Lorraine, daughter of Giselbert, Duke of Lorraine. (Ref: Mo­riarty, p. 134; Turton, p. 112.)

8.   Herbert III, Count of Vermandois, was born ca. 955 and died ca. 1000. He married (her second) Ermengarde, daughter of Reinald, Count of Bar. (Ref: Moriarty, p. 134; Turton, p. 112.)

9.   Eudes (Otho), Count de Vermandois, was born ca. 1000 and died on 25 May 1045. He married Parvie. (Ref: Moriarty, p. 134; Turton, p. 112.)

10.  Herbert IV, Count de Vermandois, was born ca. 1032 and died ca. 1080. He married Adele de Vexin, daughter of Raoul III, the Great, Count of Valois and Vexin. (Ref: Moriarty, p. 5, 134; Turton, p. 112.)

11.  Adelaide de Vermandois, Countess of Vermandois and Valois, died ca. 1120. She married Hugh Magnus, Duke of France and Burgundy, Crusader. He died in 1101. (Ref: NCP X:351; Turton, p. 112; Moriarty, The Plantagenet Ancestry, p. 134.)

12. Isabel de Vermandois, Countess of Leicester, died in February 1131. She married Sir Robert de Beaumont, Count of Meulan and companion of William the Conqueror. Re was born ca. 1046 and died on 5 June 1118. They were married in 1096. (Ref: NCP X:351; IV:670 Chart III; VII:520, 523-526, 737; Turton, p. 100, 114.)

13.  Isabel de Beaumont married Gilbert de Clare, Earl of Pembroke. He was born ca. 1100 and died on 6 January 1147/8. (Ref: NCP IV:670 Chart III; V:736+; VII:520; 1:348-352; Turton p.114.)

14.  Richard de Clare "Strongbow", Earl of Pembroke, Striguil, Justiciar of Ireland, was born ca. 1130 and died ca. 20 April 1176. He married ca. 26 August 1171 to Eva, daughter of Dermot MacKurrough, King of Leinster, at Waterford, Ireland. He was living in 1186. (Ref: IV:670 Chart III; V:736+; X:352-357; Turton, p. 114.)

15.  Isabel de Clare died in 1220. She married Sir William Marshall, Earl of Pembroke and Regent of the Kingdom in August, 1189 in London. He was born ca. 1146 and died on 14 May 1219. They are buried at Temple Church. (Ref: NCP IV:670 Chart III; V:736+; 1:358-364; Turton, p. 94.)

16.  Isabel Marshall died on 17 January 1239/40 at Berkhamstead. She married Sir Gil­bert de Clare, Earl of Clare, of Hertford and Gloucester on 9 October 1217. He was born ca. 1180 and died on 25 October 1230 at Penros, Brittany. (Ref: NCP IV: 670 Chart III; V:694-5, 736+; 1II:244; Turton, p. 94.)

17.  Sir Richard de Clare, Earl of Clare, of Hertford and Gloucester, was born on 4 August 1222 and died on 15 July 1262. He married (his second) Maude de Lacy, Countess of Lincoln, ca. 25 January 1237/8. She died before 10 March 1288/9. (Ref: NCP IV:670 Chart III; V:696-702, 736+; III:244; Turton, p. 73, 94.)

18.         Sir Gilbert de Clare, Earl of Hertford and Gloucester, was born 2 September 124: at Christ Church, Hampshire and died on 7 December 1295 at Monmouth Castle. R married (his second) Joan Plantagenet on April-May 1290. Joan, the daughter W Edward I, King of England, was born ca. 1272 at Acre, Holy Land, and died on 2! April 1307 at Clare, County Suffolk (England). (Ref: NCP V:736+, 702-710; III:244; IV:670 Chart III; Turton, The Plantagenet Ancestry, p. 73.)

19.         Elizabeth de Clare was born at Tewkesbury on 16 September 1295 and died on 4 No­vember 1360. She is buried at St. Marys, Ware. She married Sir Roger Damory, Lord Damory (her third) of Bletchingdon, Oxon. He died at Tutbury Castle m 13/14 March 1321/2. (Ref: NCP V:736t; IV:42-43.)

20.         Elizabeth Damory was born before 23 -May 1318 and died after 1360. She marries John Bardolf, Lord Bardolf, before 25 December 1327. He was born at Wormegay County Norfolk on 13 January 1313/14 and died on July-August 1363 at Assisi, Italy. (Ref: NCP I:418-19; IV:45-46; V:715 note d.)

21.   William Bardolf, Lord Bardolf of Wormegay, County Norfolk was born 21 October 1349 and died on 29 January 1385/6. He is buried at Friar Carmelites, Lynn County Norfolk. He married Agnes, daughter of Michael, Lord Poynings. She died on 12 June 1403. She is buried at Trinity Priory, Aldgate, London. (Ref: NCP 419.)

22.         Cecily Bardolf died on 29 September 1432. She married Sir Brian Stapleton o: Ingham and Bedale. He was born before 1380 and died in August 1438. They are buried at Ingham Priory. (Ref: New Complete Peerage V:397.)

23.         Sir Miles Stapleton of Ingham and Bedale was born ca. 1408 and died on 30 Sept ber-1 October 1466. He is buried at Ingham Priory. He married (his second Katherine de la Pole of Grafton Regis. She was born ca. 1415 and died on 13/1 October 1488. She is buried at Rewley Abbey. (Ref: New Complete Peerage V:397.)

24.         Elizabeth Stapleton was born ca. 1440 and died on 18 February 1504/5. She married Sir William Calthorpe, the Sheriff of Norfolk, of Burnham Thorpe, Count Norfolk before 7 March 1463/4. He was born on 30 January 1409/10 and died on 1 November 1494. He is buried at White Friars, Norwich. (Ref: New Complete Peer age, V:397.)

25.         Anne Calthorpe died ca. 1494. She married Sir Robert Drury of Hawstead, Count Suffolk. He died on 2 March 1535/6 at St. Edmunds. He is buried at St. Marys (Ref: Dictionary of National Biography 6:57-8; Muskett, II:354.)

26.         Anne Drury married Sir George Waldegrave of Smallbridge, County Suffolk. He V born in 1483 and died in 1528. (Ref: Muskett, Suffolk Manorial Families I:313-4,354; II:241, 256, 354; Vis. Suffolk 1:93-95; Vis. Essex I:120.)

27.   Sir William Waldegrave of Waltham-Stow, County Essex and Smallbridge, Count Suffolk, died on 2 May 1554. He married Juliane, daughter of Sir John Rainey ford. (Ref: Vis. Suffolk I:94; Vis. Essex I:96, 121.)

28.   Dorothy Waldegrave married Arthur Harris, Esquire, of Woodham Mortimer and Crixse, County Essex. He died on 30 June 1597. (Ref: Vis. Essex I:60, 213; Morant, History of Essex, I:363; Will, Prerogative Court of Canterbury (50 Cobham) 1597.)

29.   Sir William Harris died on 20 November 1616 at Crixse, County Essex. He married Alice Smythe, daughter of Sir Thomas Smythe of Weston Hangar, County Kent. (Ref: Will, P. C. C. - 119 Cope - 1616; Brown, Genesis, p. 912-13; Vis. Essex I:213, 414; Will of Sir Thomas Smythe the Younger in Va. Nag. of History & Biography XXVI:267-70; Records of the Virginia Company of London III:84, 326; IV:553; Will. P. C. C. - Savile 42-1622.)

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References used for ancestry of Johanna Percy:

1.   15th Edition, Encyclopedia Britannica - 1975.

2.   The Plantagenet Ancestry of King Edward III and Queen Philippa, by George Andrew Moriarty.

3.   The Plantagenet Ancestry, by W. H. Turton.

4.   History and Antiquities of Essex and the History of the County of Essex, both by Morant.

5.   Visitation of Essex.

6.   English Family Charts.

7.   Research, Robert E. Harris.

The Ancestry of Johanna Percy,

Wife of Arthur Harris (b. c. 1476; d. c. 1532)

1.   Pepin III (the Short); d. September 24, 768 A. D.

      Ruler of the Franks and the first King of Western Europe's Carolingian dynasty.

2.   Charlemagne (Charles the Great); b. c. April 2, 747 A. D.; d. January 28, 814. King of the Franks and             Emperor of the West - expanded the Carolingian Empire.

3.   Pepin; d. July 8, 810.

      King of Italy.

4.   Bernard; b. 797; d. 818.

      King of Italy.

5.   Pepin, Count of Senlis, Peronne and St. Quentin.

6.   Pepin de Senlis, de Valois.

7.   Popie de Valois. She married Hrolfr (Rollo the Dane). He was the first Duke (Ruler) of Normandy.

8.               William the Longsword, Duke of Normandy.                                                        RS

9.               Richard I, Duke of Normandy.

10.         Richard II, Duke of Normandy.

11. Robert I, Duke of Normandy.

12.         William I; b. c. 1028 at Falaise, Normandy; d. September 9, 1087 at Rouen, Nor­mandy (now France). William was Duke of Normandy and the Conqueror of England in 1066 A. D. He was crowned as the first Norman King of England on Christmas Day in 1066. William's wife was Matilda (Maude) of Flanders. William was King of England (1066 to 1087).

13.         Henry I; b. 1069; d. December 1, 1135. Henry was King of England (1100-1135).

14.         Matilda; b. 1102 in London; d. September 10, 1167. She was named by her father as heir to the throne of England. She actually served as the reigning monarch for only a short period of time. Matilda was not shy because she was a woman. However, her marriage to Geoffrey Plantagenet of Anjou, France did not help her cause. Geoffrey was from a family who were enemies of Matilda's own people. Ma­tilda defended her claim to the throne by raising an army, which was not an un­usual way to politic in her day. Matilda's cousin, Stephen of Blois, served as King of England in place of Matilda. Matilda's son, Henry Plantagenet, became the King after Stephen.

15.         Henry IX (Plantagenet); b. 1133 at LeMans; d. July 6, 1189. He was King of Eng­land (1154-1189).

16. John I (Plantagenet); b. December 24, 1167; d. October 19, 1216. He was King of England (1199-1216). He signed the Magna Carta in 1215.

17.         Henry III (Plantagenet); b. October 1, 1207; d. November 16, 1272. He was King of England (1216-1272).

18.         Edward I (Plantagenet); b. June 17, 1239; d. July 7, 1307. He was King of Eng­land (1272-1307). Edward married Eleanor of Castile. She was born in 1246 and died in 1290. She was the daughter of King Ferdinand III of Castile.

19.         Edward II (Plantagenet); b. April 25, 1284; d. September, 1327. He was King of England (1307-1327). He married Isabella of France.

20. Edward III (Plantagenet); b. November 13, 1312; d. June 21, 1377 in Surry. He was King of England (1327-1377). Edward married Philippa of Hainault.

21.         Lionel Plantagenet of Antwerp, Duke of Clarence; b. November 29, 1338; d. October 17, 1368. Had he not preceded his father in death, Lionel may well have succeed­ed to the throne of England. Lionel married Elizabeth de Burgh, daughter of William de Burgh, third Earl of Ulster.

22.         Philippa Plantagenet; b. August 16, 1355. She married Edmund Mortimer in 1368. He was the son of Lord Roger Mortimer.

23.         Elizabeth Mortimer married Sir Henry Percy. He was known as Hotspur. He was so named by the Scots because of the zeal with which he patrolled the Scottish bor­der. He was born on May 20, 1364, the son of Sir Henry Percy, the First Earl of Northumbria (at that time called Northumberland). Northumbria, in the north of England, was on the border of Scotland.

The Percy family had enormous prestige and influence in England. They were closely related to several other families with close ties to the royal family.

A great deal of confusion as to whom should be King of England came after the long reign of King Edward, III. As long as John of Gaunt (son of King Edward, III) lived, there was stability in the country. After John's death, the country was divided into competing camps. John had been the Duke of Lancaster. His brother, Edmund of Langley, had been the Duke of York. After their deaths, their families were arrayed against each other in competition for the throne. The Percy family as well as some other families were caught in the middle of this struggle. Many Percy family lives were lost as results of this struggle. This struggle, known as the War of Roses, lasted for 85 years.

For example, Henry Bolinbroke, the son of John of Gaunt, insisted that the Percys assist him in his efforts to depose King Richard II and become King himself. They did assist him. They raised an army and removed Richard from the throne. Bolinbroke became Henry IV. He rewarded the Percys for their help.

After a time, Henry failed to keep his commitments. The Percys agreed to help others depose Henry IV, They, again, raised an army. Henry, however, learned of the effort and engaged them with his own forces. Sir Henry Percy (Hotspur) was killed in the battle on July 21, 1403. His father escaped and continued the fight. The elder Percy was captured in due time. As a lesson to others, Henry IV had the elder Percy killed. His head was hung on the London Bridge. His body was cut into chunks and delivered in parcels to the other Earls in England.

William Shakespeare used some of these activities for his plays, such as RICHARD II, HENRY IV, ROMEO AND JULIET and others.

Sir Henry Percy (Hotspur) was a character in some of the plays.

24.         Sir Henry Percy; b. February 3, 1392; d. May 22, 1455. He was Earl of Northum­bria. He was killed at the first battle of St. Albans. He married Eleanor Ne­ville, daughter of Sir Ralph Neville. Eleanor's mother was Joan Plantagenet, alias Beaufort, daughter of John of Gaunt.

25.  Sir Henry Percy; b. July 25, 1421; d. March 29, 1461. He was Earl of Northum­bria. He was killed in the battle of Towton. He married Eleanor Poynings. She was born in 1430 and died in 1473.

26.         Sir Henry Percy, b. 1449; d. April 28, 1489. He was fourth Earl of Northumbria.

      Henry was confined in the Tower of London from the time of his father's death un­til October 27, 1469. At that time, he was given his freedom by King Edward 111 and restored to the Earldom.

      Edward IV had gained the throne in the right of Sir Henry's ancestor, Philippa Plantagenet Mortimer.

      Sir Henry was murdered on April 28, 1489.

      He had married Maude Herbert, daughter of Sir William Herbert, the first Earl of Pembroke.

27.   Sir Henry Algernon Percy; b. January 13, 1477; d. May 19, 1527. He was Earl of Northumbria. He also held the title of Lord Poynings. He married Catherine Spencer, the daughter of Sir Robert and Eleanor Beaufort Spencer.

28.         Sir Thomas Percy; b. June 2, 1537. He was executed for participating in Aske's conspiracy. He married Eleanor Harbottle, daughter of Guichard and Joan Will­oughby Harbottle.

29.         Johanna (Joanna) Percy. Joanna married Arthur Harris, the son of William and Anne Jernegan Harris.

Arthur was born c. 1476 and died c. 1532.

Joanna and Arthur were the great-grandparents of Sir William Harris of Creeksea (d. November 14, 1616).

Above: The ruins of Warkworth Castle in Northumbria. The Percy family lived here in 1332. This castle dates back to the year 737. Below: The Herbert home in Wiltshire. Maude Herbert, daughter of Sir William Herbert, the First Earl of Pembroke, married our ancestor, Sir Henry Percy (1449-1489), fourth Earl of Northumbria. Photos by Luther P. Harris 5-23-93.

Views in Canterbury, Kent. Above: Canterbury Cathedral, with entrance to court yard shown on the left. Below: The ruins of an old Norman Castle in Canterbury.
Photos by Luther P. Harris 5-22-93.

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