Perrott family 'history'
by John Burke
Last update = 9 January 2014
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Perrott family 'history' by John Burke Last update = 9 January 2014 |
John Burke, in his 1838 Commoners gave a highly embellished and erroneous history of the Perrott family, reproduced below. Burke's account has been a source of confusion and misinformation on this family. It repeats a highly fictionized history printed earlier:
Source: Burke, John, Esq. 1838. A Genealogical and Heraldic Dictionary of the Peerage and Baronetage of the British Empire, Enjoying Territorial Possessions or High Official Rank; but Univested with Heritable Honours. Vol IV. Henry Colburn, Publisher, London. Pp 651-652.
"The ancient family of Perrott derived their name from Castle Perrott, in Brittany, built in 957 by William de Perrott, whose great-grandson Sir Richard Perrrott, Seigneur de Perrott in 1066, furnished William of Normandy with his quota of ships and men, accompanied the expedition to England, and settling in Somersetshire, commenced the building of a city, whose remains are north and south Perrott, between which the river Perot rises and runs into the Severn. Sir Richard left issue by his wife, daughter of Sancho Ramyno, second king of Aragon, a son and heir, Sir Stephen Perroett, who, growing too powerful in the lands he inherited in Somersetshire, King Henry I. called him thence, and gave him as much territory as he could conquer in South Wales, which was then in confusion. He was thus forced to leave, with regret, the infant city his father had founded; and to which he had given the name of Perrott; but not being able to contest it with Henry, he went into Gloucestershire to raise forces. Not willing, however, to lead his troops into a country of which knew nothing, he went to Wales in disguise, in order to view the state of it, and was there struck with the beauty of the Princess Helen, daughter and sole heir of Marchin, descended from Howel Dda, King of South Wales. She was no less charmed with his graceful stature, his amiable and majestic countenance, and most wonderful brilliant and piercing eye, which commanded reference from all that held it. The conquest of this Princess, whom he married, gained him great part of that country, the respect and love of the people. They had issue, one son, Sir Andrew Perrott, Lord of Iystington, in Pembrokeshire, who claimed the kingdom of Wales in right of his mother, Helen, and collected a boy of forces to defend his crown, but afterwards compromised the matter by having a grant of the land twenty miles round his camp; he built on the very spot where his army was encamped, a castle, which he called Herbeth or Narbeth, in Pembrokeshire, and placed there a garrison to defend his lands in the year 1112. These lands were afterwards converted into a forest, and is called the Forest of Narbeth. Sir Andrew left issue, Sir William, Lord of Iystington, and knight banneret, whose descendants continued to reside in Pembrokeshire until the heiress of the family conveyed the vast possessions into the Packington family. A younger son removed to Brecknockshire, and was ancestor of the Perrotts of that county, and also of those settled in Glamorganshire at Gellygare, one of whom, the Rev. Gregory Perrott, who had property at Gellygare in the county of Glamorgan, and Bedwelty, in the county of Monmouth, born A.D. 1655, rector of Llandegveth, in the county of Monmouth, died 7th Sept., 1741, aged eighty-six, and was buried in the chancell at Llandegveth, leaving (by Blanch, his wife, daughter of William Lewis, esq. of Kilvanhangbod, in Glamorganshire, who died, aged seventy, 12th April, 1729, and was buried with her husband in the chancel at Llandegveth), John, Jerome, William, Anne and Elizabeth, wife of Meredith Evans, and an oldest son and heir, the Rev. Gregory Perrott, rector of Gellygare, born in 1700, who died 28th December, 1756, aged fifty-six, and was buried in the chancel of Llandegveth; he left by Jane, his wife, daughter of --- Dale, and widow of David Williams, esq. of Llandegveth, one son and one dau. The former, William Perrott, esq. of Llandegveth, b. 11th June, 1736, died unm. 19th March, 1779, aged forty-three, and was buried in Llandegveth church, leaving his sister, Jane Perrott, his heir, who died 25th July, 1812, having m. 4th July, 1769, William Nicholl, esq. of Tredunnock, as above. Arms of Perrott, of Llandegveth; gules, three pears or, on a chief argent, a demi-lion issuant sable, armed of the field. Crest, a parrot vert, holding in his dexter claw a pear or, with two leaves vert. Motto, Am out invenio. The arms as well as the crest alludes to the name, pear or, a golden pear. In the reign of Elizabeth a member of this family was one of the most powerful men of his day. Sir John Perrott, Lord of Haroldstone and of Langhorn, which castle he built, he was likewise Lord of Carew and its castle, in Pembrokeshire, to which he added the fine part called Castle Perrott; he was lord-deputy, lieutenant-general , and general-governor of the kingdom of Ireland, admiral of England, and a lord of the privy council, knight of the bath, &c. &c. he possessed an estate of £22,000 per annum; he was m. twice by his first wife he had a son, Sir Thomas, created a baronet, 28th June, 1611, who died before his patent was made out; by his second wife he had a son, Sir James Perrott, who garrisoned Carew and Langhorn castles with1130 men, all at his own expence, and offered them as places of security to his sovereign when his troubles increased; he was of the kings's council, and such was his affection to him for his loyalty, that he ordered a warrant for a patent, creating him Marquis of Narbeth, Earl and Viscount Carew, and Baron Perrott. After the restoration Charles II. neglected this family, whose castles had been torn from them, their estates plundered, and some given to Oliver's adherents; themselves loaded with fines, and their houses and parks destroyed."
