User:Felton7/sandbox

Coat of Arms of Sir Thomas Felton, KG: Gules, two lions passant in pale ermine, crowned or.

Felton (Family)

The Felton family (also known as 'de Feltone') is a minor Anglo-Norman noble dynasty, originating in Northumberland, near the village of Felton. Many of its members served as Seneschals and Castellans throughout the Medieval period, from the Norman Conquest onward. The Feltons had numerous peerages and titles throughout the centuries, most recently the baronetcy of Playford.

Origin

Norman beginnings

The 'de Feltones' of the Middle Ages were a cadet branch of the Bertram family, the Barons of Mitford, who had their seat at Mitford Castle. These Bertrams were descended from Sir William de Bertram/Bertrand, who had taken part in the Norman invasion of England as a Knight. His son, Richard, married Sybil de Mitford, who inherited her father's castle. Thus, the Bertrams became Barons of Mitford:

"At the time of the Conquest, the Castle of Mitford, in Northumberland, was held by Sir John de Mitford, whose only daughter and heiress, Sibella Mitford, was given in marriage by the Conqueror to a Norman knight of the name of Richard Bertram, and from this alliance sprang the Lords Bertram of Mitford".

Struggles against the Crown

A century or so later, the Lordship was possessed by Sir William de Bertram, who married Alice d'Umfraville, sister to Robert d'Umfraville. He was succeeded by his son Roger II, who rebelled against King John, having his lands and castle confiscated and given to Philip de Ulecote, though Henry III later returned them. He had at least two sons, Roger III (who inherited upon his death) and Pagan (or Paine).

Mitford Castle, the seat of the Bertram family.

Sir Roger III Bertram, that son, aligned himself with the baronial forces during the Second Barons' War. After his capture at the Battle of Northampton in 1264, much of his barony, including Mitford Castle, was confiscated by royal officials and subsequently fragmented. Though briefly restored to favour later that year, he had already alienated significant portions of his estates, which did not return to the family.

Founding

During this period of forfeiture, it is plausible that some lands passed to Sir Roger's younger brother, Pagan, as he is recorded as “Pagan (or Paine) of Upper Felton”; one of his father's holdings, and in situations of forfeiture, it was common practice for lands to be redistributed within the family. As Roger’s lands were divided and his barony diminished, retaining some portion within the Bertram lineage would have preserved family presence and influence in Northumberland. This would align with the feudal custom of assigning lands to secondary heirs or loyal family members in cases of conflict-related forfeiture, particularly when immediate male relatives were available to inherit or administer the estates.

Pagan of Upper Felton would have two sons, William (known as the Elder) and Robert (or Roger). William would stay in the North and found the Northumberland branch of the Family, and Robert would found the Norfolk branch, though some sources list them as father and son, or their children as from the same father, so it can get very confusing, especially with repeated names. Both of these sons would be known as both Fitz-Paine (son of Paine (Pagan)) and de Felton.

Felton of Edlingham

Edlingham Castle today.

Sir William Felton the Elder and Younger

The Feltons rose to occupy a position of influence on the Scottish border through the efforts of Sir William Felton the elder (d.c.1328), who not only served as sheriff of Northumberland, but also held successively the Constableships of four royal castles, first in Wales and then in the North. The family seat of Edlingham Castle was bought by him in 1294. His son, Sir William the Younger, was an equally capable crown servant. During the course of a busy public career this Sir William spent some time as Constable of Roxburgh and later represented Northumberland in at least four Parliaments. Through his second wife, Isabel, he obtained the manor of Hinton in Nottinghamshire. By the time of his death in c.1358, the Feltons had acquired the manors of West Matfen, Heddon and Buteland, together with extensive holdings in Nafferton, Lemington, Lorbottle, Milbourne, Whittingham and Thirston in Northumberland, the vill of Medomsley and the neighbouring manor of Hamsterley in the palatinate of Durham, and the manor of Boddington (which alone produced over 20 marks p.a.) in Northamptonshire. All of these lands (except from Hinton) passed to the son of his first marriage, another Sir William, and Hinton passed to the son of his second marriage, Sir John.

Sir William Felton 'the Lionheart'

A summary. For his Wikipedia page: click here.

Sir William (now the third of this list) would play a large part in the 100 years war, and other 14th century conflicts. He was made Seneschal of Poitou, and lord justice of all the king's lands in Scotland in 1348. He was referred to by Chandos Herald as "Felleton Guilliam qui ot cœur de lyon", (William Felton who had the heart of a lion). He was killed on 19 March 1367 at Aríñez, in a skirmish before the battle of Navarrete, in which his kinsman Sir Thomas Felton was taken prisoner. The heroic resistance of a handful of Englishmen and the rash bravery of Felton seem to have struck the imagination of the people of the country, where the recollection of this feat of arms is still to be found in legend. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle depicted this battle in the finale of his historical novel The White Company (1891). His last stand is described by the Chandos Herald (York University Translation):

Battle of Nájera 1367. Sir William Felton died in a skirmish led by Sir Thomas Felton before this battle.

Then the main body of the Spaniards rode up and met Felton and Sir Richard Taunton, Degori Says (?), Ralph de Hastings, who cared not two cherries for death, and Sir Gaillard Beguer, and many a good and valiant knight: they were a good one hundred fighting-men together, great and small. Their company rallied on a little mountain, but Sir William, the valiant, very boldly and bravely charged among the enemy like a man devoid of sense and discretion, on horseback, lance couched. Striking a Spaniard upon his flower-emblazoned shield, he made him feel through the heart his sharp blade of steel. Down to the ground he hurled him in the sight of all the people. Like a man full of great hardihood he rushed upon them, with drawn sword, and the Castilians by their might followed him on all sides, and threw spears and darts at him. They slew his horse under him, but Sir William Felton defended himself stoutly on foot, like a lion-hearted man; albeit his defence availed him little, for he was slain. God have mercy on him.

Sir John Felton

On his death in 1367, Sir John Felton (his half brother), whose prospects had hitherto seemed rather modest, succeeded to almost all his half-brother’s possessions. He did not gain custody of them without a struggle, though, since the guardians of his two young nephews of the half-blood, William Hilton (the future Lord Hilton) and (Sir) Thomas Swinburne, tried to prove that most of the property had been settled upon the boys in fee simple, giving them a superior title at law. A number of separate inquests held locally to determine the descent of the Northumbrian manors returned contradictory findings, but after a protracted bout of litigation, which lasted until August 1372, John managed to uphold his claim to most of the inheritance, except for rents worth £25 p.a. in Nafferton, half the manor of Milbourne and various holdings in Durham. These were finally assigned to the two boys when they came of age, seven years later.

A trusted figure in border affairs, Sir John served as a conservator of truces with Scotland and fought under Sir Henry Percy ("Hotspur") at the Battle of Otterburn in 1388. He also served as sheriff of Northumberland and represented the county in Parliament. Through his marriages, he expanded the family's influence into Yorkshire and Northamptonshire. His estate passed to his daughters and eventually integrated into the Hastings family holdings, marking the family's legacy on the Anglo-Scottish border.

On his death, the Feltons died out in Edlingham and the North.

Felton of Litcham

Sir Robert Felton

Village sign, Litcham. The coat of arms, bottom, is that of the Feltons of Litcham, but have been repainted in the wrong colours.

The Feltons of Litcham descended from Pagan (Paine)'s other son, the aforementioned Roger or Robert de Feltone. He married Maud, a kinswoman of John IV le Strange, who was the son of John III le Strange of Knockyn. Through this marriage, Robert was granted the Manor of Litcham, in Norfolk, an Ancient seat of the le Stranges. He was in the Army of Scotland in 1298, and became Constable of Lochmaben Castle, during the English invasion of Scotland in 1300, where he was attacked by Scots sallying out from Caeverlock. In the fighting, he killed the constable of Caerlaverock, Robert Cunningham and, as a symbol of victory, stuck his head on the great tower of Lochmaben. He later became Constable of Scarborough, and was at the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314, where he was killed. In many ways his career matches that of his brother, William the Elder, who was also a celebrated soldier. Some sources list there being two Roberts, father and son, but this is a simpler explanation.

Sir John Felton

Caerphilly Castle

The son of Robert, John was also an accomplished castellan and soldier, holding the post of Constable of Newcastle, and was an Admiral of England. He was also made constable of Caerphilly by Edward II. At the time of Edward III's invasion of England, John was left to defend Caerphilly Castle, where Hugh, the son of Hugh Despenser (Edward II's favourite, who was partly to blame for the invasion) was sheltered. John was ordered by Edward II in October 1326 to hold the Marches of Wales against the rebels, and in December told not to surrender the castle of Caerphilly. John stayed loyal, refused to surrender Hugh to be executed like his grandfather and father, even after offers of pardon for the whole garrison. Eventually the siege was abandoned and everyone inside pardoned, including the young Hugh. To this day a part of the castle is called Felton's Tower. Before Edward II was deposed, he had gifted Lyonshall Castle to John, after it had passed into crown hands, but it was taken by force by William Devereux of Frome, a grandson of William Devereux, Baron Devereux of Lyonshall, who had held the castle until 1300. This wasn't the first time the Devereuxs had tried to retake the castle. Sir John was compensated by the king, and Devereaux's claim declared null.

Sir Hamon Felton

John had three sons, Sir Hamon, Sir Thomas, and Sir Edmund. Hamon was the eldest, and so inherited his father's lands. He became the Knight of the Shire for Norfolk twice, in 1372 and 1377, but died with no male heirs, and his younger brother Thomas succeeded him in 1379.

Sir Thomas Felton KG

A summary. For his Wikipedia page: click here.

Sir Thomas Felton KG (in brown) seen ordering the execution of Guillaume de Pommiers, in Bordeaux.

Sir Thomas Felton would become the most famous knight of his dynasty, winning glory in France, and favour with the Black Prince during the 100 years war. He began his career with the Crécy campaign, being present at the Battle of Crécy and the Siege of Calais. He accompanied the Prince when he went to take gascony, and fought at Poitiers. He was one of the signatories of the Treaty of Brétigny, and was the principal witness to the Black Prince's marriage.

In the 1360s, Felton was made Seneschal of Aquitaine, neighbouring his cousin William's Poitou, where he represented the Prince. He led an invasion into Spain with John Chaundos in 1367 and, leading an advance force, was captured at Aríñez, where his cousin William was killed. Thomas was later exchanged as a hostage for Arnoul d'Audrehem, Marshal of France. He was captured again in 1377, and was ransomed for thirty thousand francs. He was made a Knight of the Garter in 1381, and died later the same year.

His only son, Thomas, died at birth, so his land was split between his wife Joan, and his daughters Mary, Sybil, and Eleanor. Eleanor would go on to marry Thomas Hoo become an ancestor of Elizabeth I

Glimpse of Playford Hall.

Sir Thomas Felton, 4th Baronet of Playford, By Godfrey Kneller.

Felton of Playford

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Influence in other families

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Other notable Feltons

For a full list of notable people with this surname click here

Historic

John Felton (Martyr) (died 1570)

An English Catholic martyr, executed during the reign of Elizabeth I. Felton was arrested for fixing a copy of Pope Pius V's bull Regnans in Excelsis excommunicating Queen Elizabeth, to the gates of the Bishop London's palace near St. Paul's. His son Thomas was also martyred in 1588.

Nicholas Felton (Bishop) (1556–1626)

A Bishop and Academic, Nicholas was born in Great Yarmouth and educated at Pembroke Hall, Cambridge. He was the Bishop of Bristol from 1617 to 1619, and then Bishop of Ely.

John Felton (Assassin) (c. 1595 – 1628)

An English military officer who assassinated the hated George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham by stabbing him to death in the Greyhound Pub at Portsmouth on 23 August 1628, and was hanged at Tyburn on 29 November 1628. In a miscalculation by authorities, his body was sent back to Portsmouth for exhibition where, rather than becoming a lesson in disgrace, it was made an object of veneration. He was possibly born in Suffolk, and related to the Feltons of Playford.

Nathaniel Felton (1615 – 1705)

A Massachusetts landowner and official, Nathaniel Felton was born in Great Yarmouth, England. He emigrated from England in 1633 with his mother during the Puritan migration to New England. Nathaniel Felton is considered to be the first ancestor of the "Northern line of Feltons" to arrive in the American colonies, settling in the Massachusetts Bay Colony.

Modern

• Tom Felton, English Actor
• Mark Felton, English Historian