Brought down to the present time through several branches, and through one of its’ branches particularly called Parkinson
This family is of Saxon origin. They were seated at Fetherstone in Northumberland, after the Conquest that part of the country having been allotted to their ancestor, a Saxon officer for his gallant behaviour against the Britons. They are registered in King Stephens reign as gentlemen of coat-armour, resident at Fetherstonhaugh Castle.
The following strange story is related by Machell, that their house in Northumberland was formerly upon a hill where there are still two stones called featherstones; and was moated about for a defence against the Scots, but upon the ruin of this, the house was afterwards built in the holme or valley under the hill which they there call “haugh” and was thence called Fetherstonhaugh. Hutchinson adds that Courts of manors were anciently, and many of them to this day are held in the open air; the place distinguished by a large stone, which the steward uses as a large table at which the homage (sic) take the oath. It seems probable that the stones mentioned in Machell’s account were used for such a purpose in former ages and were called “feuder stones” where the feudal tenants of the manor were assembled. We find the family holding Fetherstone Castle in Northumberland as members of the Barony of Tynedale in the reign of Edward I.
The family has been at several times subdivided into several branches particularly two, viz, of Fetherstonhaugh and Fetherstonhalgh. The tradition of the family is that many hundred years ago, Albany Fetherstonhaugh married two wives and had a son by each of them. The first succeeding to his father’s estate in Northumberland. The second inherited that of his mother. He was descended from William de Monte who lived in the time of King Stephen, and was called de Monte from his house situated on Craig-hill near Stanhope in the county of Durham. She was the last heiress of her family. And it was to her estate, which was considerable, that her son succeeded. The two brothers thought proper in case their families should grow numerous to distinguish them by the words “haugh” and “halgh”, the former meaning a “low” place; the latter a “high” one. We learn from the pedigree that his youngest son was named Robert, that he died in the 48th of Edward III (about 1375) and he was the first of the family of de Monte of Stanhope that changed the name into Fetherstonhaugh. I must here in passing observe that this founder of the Stanhope branch is in some copies of the pedigree called William the son of Alexander.
It has already been said that the family has been subdivided into several branches. It has also been seen that the eldest branch was that of Fetherstonhaugh of Fetherstonhaugh in Northumberland and that from them the Fetherstonhalghs of Stanhope in Durham are derived. The next ancient branch that is recorded, after that of Stanhope is the house of Fetherstonhalgh alias Perkinson of Beaumont Hill and Whessoe in the same county of Durham. From these derive next in antiquity the Lancashire branch of the Perkinsons: and probably also the Yorkshire Parkinsons from whom soon after a branch was established in Bedfordshire mentioned in the Visitation of that county in 1634.
But the next branch certainly formed after that of Lancashire is the family of Fetherstonhaugh of Kirkoswold in Cumberland. It sprang from the eldest branch of all the Fetherstonhaughs of Fetherstonhaugh. We must, however, leave fiction or at least fiction in part, and come to the pedigree of this eldest branch of the family.
It has already been said there were twelve generations of this branch of the family before the name and family left the estate. It would have been more correct to say twelve “successions” for there were many more generations.
1. Helias de Ffederstanhaugh is the first we know of. He lived in the reign of King John between 1199 and 1216. He gave to the church and friars of Hexham some lands in his free fee of ffetherstonhaugh in consideration of their taking him and his heirs into their fraternity.
2. Thomas ffetherstonhaugh. At his death he left his property to his wife Mariotta. She sold some land in the year 1312. She devised the Fetherstonhaugh estate to eldest son Thomas, with remainder to her second son Alexander, and with remainder to her son Peter, Peterkin or Perkin, and to another son. She was still living in 1336.
3. Thomas ffetherstonhaugh was eldest son. He gave some lands to his mother Mariotta in 1336. He was succeeded by his son Thomas, (for whom see 4 next page). Alexander second son (for his son see *)
4. Thomas ffetherstonhaugh. His wife’s name was Margaret. She was living in 1374. In 1329 in the life-time of his father he released to the friars of Hexham the lands they had held of his ancestors. He was succeeded by the eldest son of his cousin as we shall now see.
* Alexander on whom and on his wife Isabella and his heirs male ffetherstonhaugh was settled in 1374. In the same year before he went abroad to the King’s wars he made some settlement in presence of the sheriff of the county. He is mentioned in a deed dated 1406. His eldest son Alexander succeeded to the ffetherstonhaugh estate. His second son succeeded by marriage to the Stanhope property, as will be seen after.
5. Alexander ffetherstonhaugh. He married a lady named Armitruda. He left lands to his widow for her life. In 1461 he married his son Nicholas to Maud daughter and heiress of Sir Richard Salkeld. And his grandson in consequence quartered the Salkeld arms with his own.
6. Nicholas Fetherstonhaugh son of the above: His eldest son Alexander succeeded him. His second son Richard was a Priest and was chaplain to Queen Catharine, and was zealous in her cause in the affair of her divorce. A steadfast adherent of the Catholic Church this Richard refused to subscribe to the King’s supremacy, in consequence of which he suffered death in 1540. (Dodd). The above Nicholas had another son, Rowland, and was living in 1488.
7. Alexander Fetherstonhaugh succeeded in 1513. He married Ann daughter of John Crakenthorpe. He and his son Albany are mentioned in a deed as living in 1539. His will is dated 1544. About this time there seems to have been a murder committed on one of this family. In the local historian’s table book it is thus mentioned. “1530 Oct.24. Nicolas Fetherstonhaugh gentleman, was murdered (probably in some hunting party) by William Ridley of Unthank gentleman, and Hugh Ridley of Howden in Plenmellor and others of the same name as appeared on a view of the body by the Coroner of Northumberland on the 26th of October in the same year”. In a note to Sir Walter Scott’s “Marmion”, the same thing is mentioned in Latin excepting that Nicolas Fetherstonhaugh is there called the murdered man’s son who avenged the death of his father, and was taken into custody for the same. We will give the note “24 Oct. 22 do Henrici 8 vi Inquisitio capta super visum corpus Alexandri Featherstone Gent: apud Grensilhaugh.
It must be observed that Hardriding & Wall & Howden & Willimoteswick are the names of places from which the different individuals mentioned came. I must here, too, remark that a sister of Nicolas Ridley of Willimoteswick had married into the family of Fetherston of Stanhope as we shall see when we come to their pedigree, and that her eldest boy was killed when at Fetherstonhaugh it is said by a fall, some how or other, from a horse, “ occisus fuit a tergo aqui” but whether accidentally or in consequence of this family feud, is not clear. We now continue the succession.
8. Albany Fetherstonhaugh. He married Ann, daughter of Thomas Dudley of Yean with, second son of Edmund Lord Dudley. He had a grant of Lambly Convent lands from Edward VI in 1553. Was High Sheriff in 1560, and was still living in 1568. He had three sons, Alexander who succeeded him, Henry who founded the branch of Kirkoswold, as we shall see after - & John.
9. Alexander Fetherstonhaugh married Ann daughter of Sir John Lowther. He had three sons, Albany his successor, George & Christopher who became Protestant rector of Bentham in Yorkshire. This Alexander was High Sheriff of Northumberland in 159?. He died on 1596 and was succeeded by
10. Albany Fetherstonhaugh who was 21 years old when his father died. He married Frances daughter of Barwis of Ilkirk or Ailkirk and had two sons and several daughters. His younger son was Richard and his elder son succeeded him & was called
11. Albany Fetherstonhaugh. At the visitation in 1615, when his father was still living, he was 12 years old. In the Cromwelian inquisition respecting church livings & he is mentioned as having the presentation of Lambley parish & is not called either Papis or Delinquent as many of the Northern gentry are. He married Jane Fetherstonhalgh eldest daughter of Ralph Fetherstonhalgh of Stanhope, of whom we shall speak when we come to describe the next eldest branch of the family, and by her had only one surviving child, a daughter, who succeeded him and was the last possessor of the eldest branch, namely,
12. Abigail Fetherstonhaugh. She married Mr Peter Dodshon of Kirkby Overblows in Yorkshire, son and heir of Sir Miles Dodshon. In the county rate for 1663, we find her assessed for the Fetherstonhaugh estate by the name of Mrs Dodshon. She afterwards married Mr Thomas Dykes of Gilcruce in Cumberland. She was still living in 1678. She was the last of that house and before or soon after her death, old Fetherstonhaugh had passed into other hands. But before bidding it and this old branch a final farewell, we will just say a few words about the different hands it has passed through and what became of it at last.
By whom Fetherstone Castle was sold is not known. It soon afterwards belonged to the Earl of Carlisle. The Earl of Carlisle afterwards sold it to Matthew Fetherstonhaugh of Newcastle on Tyne, who was High Sheriff in 1706 and died 100 years old in 1762. Of what branch of the family this Matthew does not appear. He had a son also named Matthew, who married in 1746, was member of parliament for Morpeth in 1753 And afterwards for Portsmouth; was Fellow of the Royal Society: & died in 1774. Fetherstonhaugh was in his possession when it was described by Hutchinson as we have seen above. This Matthew was chosen by Sir Henry Fetherstone the last male of the Blackswere branch descended from that of the Parkinson Fetherstons, as we shall afterwards see, to succeed by will to his property with a recommendation to him to procure a new creation of the Baronetcy . He was therefore in 1747 created Baronet. He purchased the estate of Uppark and the manors of South and East Harting in Sussex; where the family still remains, of the Earl of Tankervill for £90,000. This Sir Matthew sold the Castle and estate of Fetherstonhaugh to James Wallace Esq: his Majesty’s Attorney General, and father of Thomas Lord Wallace Baron Knaresdale, its present proprietor.
The ancient towers still remain: but more have been built. And the dwelling has been so enlarged & embellished and improved as to be fairly called the work of the present proprietor.
Next Eldest Branch
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We will begin with the proprietors of this house before the Fetherstons succeeded to its property. The first on record is William de Monte who lived in the time of King Stephen sometime between 1135 & 1154. He is called in Latin “de monte”, of the mountain because his mansion or castle was on a hill called Craig hill a little out of the town of Stanhope in the county of Durham. The English of his name in those days, was, no doubt William o’ th’ Crag. Hutchinson visited this mansion towards the end of the last century and thus describes it in his history of Durham, as it was then.
Within a little distance of the town of Stanhope, towards the west is a large ancient building, called Stanhope Hall situated on an eminence and guarded with a curtain wall to which you ascend by a large flight of many steps. This is one of the possessions of the Earl of Carlisle. It was the ancient family house of the Fetherstonhaughs, the last male of which race fell in the (wars) field in the civil wars, soon after which the estate was sold. There is a considerable demesne appertaining to this house in which are valuable lead mines.
1. The above William de Monte was succeeded by
2. Robert de Stanhope who was succeeded by
3. Robert of the same name to whom succeeded
4. Alexander de Stanhope. He married Lassells daughter Agnes and had an only daughter and heiress who married Robert Fetherstonhaugh of the Fetherstonhaughs of Northumberland who brought his name & succession to the Crag of Stanhope. He was brother to Alexander Fetherstonhaugh, who, as we have seen in the pedigree of the eldest branch the family made a settlement of his property before going abroad to the wars in 1374. And on whom and on his wife and son the same year was settled the entail of ffetherstonhaugh. He had an uncle Peter, son of Thomas and Mariotta from whom Peter or Perkin the Perkinsons are descended.
5. This Robert who was the first Fetherstonhalgh of Stanhope died in 1375 and was succeeded by
6. William ffetherstonhalgh who married the daughter and heiress of Lancaster of Sockbridge of Kendal in Westmoreland and was succeeded by
7. Alexander Fetherstonhalgh whose wife’s name was Margaret. He had a son Thomas who was succeeded to the property and title of the family. In the year 1434 a deed of Indenture was signed by this Thomas ffedderstonhaugh, son of Alexander ffedderstonhaugh, by Alexander ffedderstonhaugh and by Mark Whitfield of Whitfield. By this deed it was stipulated that the aforesaid Thomas and Alice Whitfield, daughter of the aforesaid Mark, were to be married. The above marriage took place as agreed upon.
8. Thomas ffederstonhaugh son of the above Alexander was next in succession. His wife has already been mentioned. To him succeed his son
9. Alexander ffetherstonhalgh. He married Cicely, daughter of Richard Duckett of Greenrigg in Westmoreland. To him succeeded
10. Richard ffetherstonhalgh who married Ann, Daughter of Robert Hedworth of Haverton, county Durham. After him came
11. John Fetherstonhalgh. This John married a daughter of Nicholas Ridley of Willimoteswick, Knight. The reader will remember that about this time there was a deadly feud existing between this family of Ridley and the Fetherstonhaughs of Fetherstonhaugh. By this daughter of Ridley he had a son Roland, who being at Fetherstonhaugh, and being only 13 years old, was killed, it is said, by a fall from a horse, “occisus fuit a lergo equi”. This Richard is entirely omitted in the pedigree given in to the Herald at the visitation of 1575. For what reason I cannot tell; he also omits to mention Michael, who in (that other) pedigrees, is given as the next possessor or heir of the estate. We, however, shall now insert him as
12. Michael Fetherstonhaugh, who married Ann, daughter of Thomas Trollop of Thornly. This family of Trollop was famous afterwards for its staunch adherence to the Catholic faith (Challonor’s mem:). Whether this Michael had any children we are unable to say. He was succeeded by
13. John Fetherstonhalgh Esq. Whether he was the son of his predecessor Michael is not stated. This John was possessor of Stanhope Hall at the visitation of 1575. He married Margaret daughter of Sir Antony Radcliff of Blanchland. In the pedigree he gave in to the Herald, he merely mentions one ascent above himself, namely John Fetherstonhalgh and his wife, sister to Sir Nicolas Ridley. This John was still living at the next visitation in 1615. In 1605 he purchased the manor of Burnetoft from Sir Bertram Bulmer. To him at last succeeded his eldest son
14. Ralph Fetherstonhaugh of Stanhope Hall Esq: At the visitation of 1615, before his father’s death, he is mentioned as having a son and heir named John, by his wife Jane, daughter of Appleyard of Burtwick Garth in Holderness- also five daughters Jane, Dorothy, Elizabeth, Mary and Helen. The first of these daughters, - Jane, as has been seen in the pedigree of the eldest branch, married Albany Fetherstonhaugh of Fetherstonhaugh and had an only child Abigail the last of that house. This Ralph had afterwards a second son Ralph, for whom when he should come of age, he settled in trustees, the manor of Burnetoft. In 1652, July 14, the remaining trustee of the Burnetoft estate gave it over to this second son then named as Ralph Fetherstonhaugh Esq: of North Auckland. This Ralph conveyed it to William Pennyman of Grays Inn, who almost immediately conveyed it to the Salvins. The Salvins have it now.
15. John Fetherstonhalgh of Stanhope Hall succeed his father. He married Ann daughter of Sir James Clavering, Baronet, and by her had a son named Thomas. This Thomas died in 1684. Soon after came the Civil war between Charles I and the Parliament, at which, says Hutchinson, the last male of this house fell in the field, and the estate was afterwards sold. The family however, was not extinct. Several of them are mentioned among the gentry of the county after the Restoration, and have no doubt descendants still in existence. But, whether they can trace their descent down in a direct line I am unable to say. I have seen no pedigree in which this has been done. Before proceeding to the next eldest branch, we mention
1. Sir John Thomas Fetherston of Ardagh, county Longford, Baronet, who claims to be descended from this branch. He bears for Arms – Gules, on a chevron between 3 ostrich feathers argent, a martlet of the field. Crest – an antelope statant, (standing up right) argent, armed, or Motto “Volens et valens” (Willing and able).
2. Thomas James Fetherstonhaugh of Bracklyn Castle, county Westmeath Arms. Gules, on a chevron between 3 ostrich feathers argent, a pellet. Crest. An antelope statant, armed or. Motto “Valens et volens”.
3. John Fetherston of Packwood House, county Warwick. Arms. On a chevron between 3 ostrich feathers argent. 3 annulets sable Crest. An antelope’s head, erased gules, horned and langued vert. Motto “Christus pennatus sidera morte veto”. (Given wings by the death of Christ I soar after heaven.
N.3. I have nowhere found the pedigree of the above three families traced down. We now proceed to the next eldest branch, that of Fetherstonhaugh alias Parkinson of Up Park Sussex.
Matthew Fetherstonhaugh of Newcastle on Tyne was sheriff in 1706. He purchased Fetherstonhaugh of the Earl of Carlisle. He died 100 years old in 1762. From what branch of the family he derived is not known. He died at South Common.
Matthew Fetherstonhaugh succeeded by will to the estates of Sir Henry Fetherstone in 1746. He married in 1746. He purchased the estate of Up Park & the manors of South & East Harting in Sussex of the Earl of Tankerville for £90,000. He was created Baronet Jan. 3. 1747. He sold the estate & castle of Fetherstonhaugh to James Wallace Esq: His Majesty’s Attorney General & fathers of Thomas Lord Wallace baron Knaresdale, its present proprietor. This Sir Matthew was M.P. for Morpeth in 1755 and afterwards for Portsmouth; & was Fellow of the Royal Society. He died in 1744.
Sir Henry Fetherstonhaugh = Mary Ann Bullock of Orton
Of Harringbrook, Essex, & Up Park,
Sussex, living 1852. He does not seem
to have had any children. At least none
that I have heard of.