Lineage. The family of WERE, or, as it was formerly spelt, WEARE, is of great antiquity in the counties of Devon and Somerset. Tradition states, that their original name was GIFFARD, a younger branch, it is represented, of the GIFFARDS of BRIGHTLEY, and HALSWORTHY; and that they took the name of WEARE only, upon inheriting that part of the property of the house of GIFFARD called WEARE-GIFFARD; whereupon, as was the custom at that period, they assumed different arms. How far this statement is correct, it is impossible at this distant date to establish, but these facts have been asserted by authorities entitled to consideration. Certain it is, however, that the family of WEARE, or, as now spelt, WERE, is of long standing in Somersetshire, as well as in Devonshire, and the arms annexed have been used by the existing branch, whose genealogy we now give, for many generations, as various engravings of them on old seals, plate, &c. still in possession of its different members, fully confirm. Those arms are to be found in the third edition of "Guillim's Heraldry," published in 1638, and again in the edition published in 1679, wherein it is stated, at page 206, "He beareth, argent, on a bend vert, between six cross croslets fitched, gules, three croysiers, or, by the name of Weare, of Devon, and is quartered by Fortescue of Filley," (the ancestor of the present Earl Fortescue.) "This coat standeth in Weare church in com: prædict. The estate of Weare-Giffard, it is believed, passed to the family of Deynsell, by the marriage of an heiress of the house of Weare, between the years 1440 and 1450, and it was carried to that of Fortescue about the year 1480, by the heiress of Deynsell. In a collection of abstracts of early charters in the library of Sir Richard Phillips, bart. there is a deed ⚫ relating to the family of Weare, of the concluding part of which the following is a correct translation: "This Indenture made at Weare-Gif"fard, between WILLIAM DE SALLEM 66 anno 13, Henry IV." (1411) L. S. signed, "WILL: WEARE." The arms attached to this deed are precisely the same as those now used by the family as herein described, but the crest, instead of being a demi lion, holding a cross crosslet, fitchee, is a basket of fish. We are unable at this moment to go further back with the genealogy, than to THOMAS WERE, eldest surviving son of Robert Weare, esq. of Sampford Arundell, in the county of Devon, who, it appears, spelt his name in the ancient style. THOMAS WEARE,* his son, however, wrote it in the modern mode, which has been continued by his descendants. He resided at Wellington in the beginning of the last century, and was possessed of the lands of "Great and Little Sowden,' "the West Leigh Estates," "Old Baums," ""Escotts," 66 Osmonds," ""Penslade," and other property in the county of Devon; together with the manor of "Runnington,' ""Landcox," "Rockwell-Green," 99.66 Perry-Elm," "Jurston," and other estates in the county of Somerset. He married about the year 1716, Elizabeth, daughter of Peter Berry, esq. and had issue eight sons, between whom he divided his different estates, and three daughters, viz. 1. ROBERT, of Runnington Manor, of whom presently. Thomas Were's second brother was Peter Were, esq. of Sampford Arundel and Were's Cot, near Wellington, whose son Ellis was a partner in the firm of Curtis, Were, Robarts and Co. bankers in London. Ellis's descendants are Thomas, of ried and has seven children, Robert, Peter, and Were's Cot, and Sampford Arundel, who is marJoseph. Thomas Were had also one sister, Elizabeth, who m. George Fox, of Perran, near Falmouth. The greater part of the different branches of the family of Were, together with most of those of their several alliances, have for many generations belonged to the Society of Friends, of which highly respectable sect, very many of them still are mem bers. Another branch of the ancient family of Were became settled in the vicinity of Plymouth about and at length sole heir of John Reid, esq. of Burthe year 1700, by a marriage with Joan, daughter rington, in Devonshire. The son of this marriage, John Were, esq. of Burrington, who died in 1778, left the whole of his property to his only child and heiress Mary, who wedded Richard Hall Clarke, esq. of Bridwell House, in Devonshire, and had issue, John Were Clarke, esq. of Bridwell House, and Burrington in Devon, a magistrate of the county of Devon, who m. in 1810, Frances, daughter of Sir Thomas Carew, bart. of Haccomb, and has issue, 1. Richard Hall. 2. Thomas. 1. Mary Were. 2. Jane Were. 3. Agnes. 4. Marcella. 5. Laura Catherine. 6. Florence Smallwood. Eliza Clarke, m. to Arthur Howe Holdsworth, esq. of Mount Galpin, in Devon, M.P. for Dartmouth, and d. leaving a dau. Eliza. Mary-Anne-Were Clarke, m. to William Adams Welsford, esq. of Exeter, and has issue. Thomas Narramore, an officer in the East India service. Frances-Anna, m. in 1818, 1. Sarah, m. Humphrey Langley, esq. and has issue as follows: William-Henry Langley, m. in 1836, Caroline-Susan, dau. of Freebairn, esq. of Byfleet, in the county of Surrey. Charles Langley, m. Eliza Harriet Reid, and has Albert-Gordon,and other issue. Albert Langley. Catherine Langley. Mary-Were Langley, married Franklin Bridge, esq. and has issue, William-Anthony, and other children. Frances-Jane Langley. 2. Elizabeth, m. her cousin William Were, as already stated under the head of Robert. 1. Thomas, late of Ashley Court, near Bristol, married Mary Ash, and had issue, Thomas Bonville, of Underley Elizabeth. 2. Joseph, m. Hester Ash, and had issue, Joseph, who married his cousin Sarah Were, daughter of Robert Were, of Poole, and has issue, as before shewn. 1. Elizabeth, m. to William Matravers, esq. of Westbury, in the co. of Wilts, (a younger brother of John Matravers, esq. of Melksham, whose sole daughter and heiress, Hester, married in 1767 the Lord William Seymour, uncle of the present Duke of Somerset, see BURKE's Peerage and Baronetage), and had issue, 1. John Matravers, m. Mary Fow- Elizabeth, m. Thomas White, esq. of Clifton, and has issue. 3. William Matravers, m. Elizabeth Fox, daughter of Edward Fox, esq. of Wadebridge, by Anna Were, and has issue, William-Fox, married Caroline Howard, of Ipswich, and has issue, William. John-Howard. Thomas. Edward, and two daugh ters. John-Fox, an officer in the king's household. I. Elizabeth Matravers, m. Gaisford Gibbs, esq. and by him had issue a daughter and heiress, Susan Gibbs, m. Abraham Ludlow, esq. of Heywood House, in the county of Wilts, by whom she has, Abraham Ludlow, of Hey- Richard Summers, esq. of Bristol, (Her male heir, the present JOHN-S. HARFORD, esq. of Blaize Castle, inherited her entailed estates). Her daughter and heiress, SARAH SUMMERS,m. George Colesworthy, esq. of Mount Radford, and was mother of those ladies. Massey Lopez. 2. Hester Matravers, m. Joseph William Wright, esq. of 11. Anna, m. Edward Fox, esq. of Wadebridge, in the county of Cornwall, and had issue, 1. George Fox, m. Frances James, George, m. Eleanor Rawes. Robert-Fox. Frances, m. John Allen, esq. Rebecca-Phillips-Fox. 2. Thomas Fox, ofTonedale House, near Wellington, m. Sarah, dau., of Thomas Smith, esq. banker in London, and has issue, Thomas, m. Catherine Alex ander, of Ipswich, and has Thomas, and other issue. Edward, m. Hanna Alexander, and has Edward - Dykes, Alexander, and other children. Sylvanus, m. Mary Sanderson, and has Sylvanus, and other children. Samuel, m. Maria Middleton, and has Middleton, and other children. Henry, m. Rachel Crewdson, of Kendal, and has issue. Charles, m. Sarah Crewdson, and has issue, Dilworth and Crewdson. Sarah. Anna, m. John Sanderson, a merchant in London. Mary, died young. Elizabeth, m. James Charlton. 3. Edward Fox, m. Mary Brown, of Landrake, and has issue, Edward, m. Jane Mustrinick, and has issue, George, m. Rachel Hingston, of Plymouth, and has issue. Francis, m. Rachel Wormsley, and has issue. Mary. Charlotte. 4. Robert-Were Fox, m. Dorothy Hingston, and has issue, Robert-Were, of Exeter, m. Rachel Prideaux, of Kingsbridge, and has issue. Dorothy. Rachel, died young. 1. Mary Fox, m. Sylvanus Bevan, III. Mary, m. George Croker Fox, esq. of Falmouth, and had issue, 1. George-Croker Fox, of Grove Hill,near Falmouth, m. Catherine Young, of Leominster, and had issue, George-Croker, of Grove Hill, m. Lucy, daughter of Robert Barclay, esq. of Bury Hill, in the county of Surrey. Catherine-Payton, died unm. 2. Robert-Were Fox, m. Elizabeth Tregellis, of Falmouth, and had issue, Robert-Were, m. Maria, ano- Joshua, married, and has issue Alfred, m. Sarah Lloyd, of Birmingham, and has several children. Henry, died young. Charles, m. Sarah Hustler, of Charlotte. Elizabeth, m.William Gibbins, of Worcester. Mary-Anna, m. Francis Tucket, of Frenchay, near Bristol. 3. Thomas Fox, m. Mary Tregellis, of Falmouth, and has issue, Thomas-Were, a merchant at Plymouth, m. Eliza Grigg, and has issue. William, a merchant at Gloucester, m. Elizabeth Windeatt, and has issue. Frederick, died young. 1. Mary Fox, of Pengyrick, near Falmouth. The eldest son, ROBERT WERE, esq. of Runnington Manor, near Wellington, m. Elizabeth, daughter of Elworthy, esq. and had issue, 1. ROBERT, his heir. II. William, who m. his cousin Elizabeth Were, and had five sons and three daughters, viz. 1. William. 2. Charles. 3. Thomas, d. s. p. 4. Samuel, m. Eliza Philips. 6. Elworthy. 1. Eliza, m. to William Rodham, 2. Mary. 3. Fanny. III. Samuel, m. Anne, daughter of Fletcher, esq. and had a daughter, Mary-Ann, m. to Richard Dawson, esq. of Frickley Hall, in the county of York. 1. Sarah, m. to Walter Prideaux, esq. Kingsbridge, and has 1. Walter Prideaux. Crest-A demi lion, rampant, ppr. holding a cross crosslet, fitchee gu. Motto (as assumed of late by some members of the family)-Fuimus. Estates-In the counties of Somerset and Devon. There is another branch of the family which still retain the original orthography of the name, and were formerly possessed of Manox and Giddis Court, in Herefordshire. They also appear to have used the arms as annexed, for many generations, as is to be seen on various old monuments in the parish church of Goodrick. Of this branch the present representative is Lieutenant-colonel THOMAS WEARE, of Hampton Bishop, in the county of Hereford, knight of the Royal Hanoverian Guelphic Order, and a magistrate for the said county, (at present commanding the provisional battalion at Chatham,) only son of the late Rev. Thomas Weare, of Jesus College, Oxford, who resided, and was a distinguished preacher, in that university for many years, and des 2. Robert Prideaux, m. Jane Bil- cended from the Weares of Manox, and ling. 3. George Prideaux. 4. William Prideaux,whom. Eliza, 5. Thomas Prideaux. 6. Samuel Prideaux. 1. Elizabeth Prideaux. 2. Sarah Prideaux. Giddis Court, in the county of Hereford; where it appears, by reference to deeds, &c. they were residing previously to the year 1611. Lieutenant-colonel Weare married Ann, daughter of the late John Pugh, esq. of Lowes, Radnorshire, and has two sons and one daughter, Thomas-William Weare, B.A. one of the Westminster students of Christ Church College, Oxford; Henry Edwin Mr. Were's eldest son is the present ROBERT Weare, and Charlotte-Maria Weare. Arms-Arg. on a bend vert, between six cross crosslets, fitchee gu., three croysiers, Manox and Giddis Court, in Herefordshire, having descended to a female branch of the elder son, has since passed from the family by sale. or. LUCAS, OF CASTLE SHANE. LUCAS, EDWARD, esq. of Castle Shane, in the county of Monaghan, b. 27th Sep O tember, 1787, m. Anne, daughter of William Ruxton, esq. of Ardee House, in the county of Louth, formerly Member for Ardee, in the Parliament of Ireland, and has issue, FRANCIS. Charles. Catherine. Isabella. Mr. Lucas succeeded his father in 1796, and represents the county of Monaghan in parliament. He is a magistrate and deputy-lieutenant, and has served the office of sheriff. Lineage. In the early part of the 17th century, several members of the Lucas family migrated from England and settled in the sister island, where their descendants still remain, in the counties of Clare, Cork, King's County, and Monaghan. In the last named they acquired, partly by purchase and partly by royal grant, considerable estates, which were erected into a manor by patent of CHARLES II., in 1683, "to be called the manor of Castle Shane," and the principal part of which has ever since continued in the family. FRANCIS LUCAS, esq. the first of Castle Shane, whose will, dated 15th October, 1657, was proved 8th December, 1657, m. Mary Pointz, and by her, who wedded secondly, Robert Moore, esq., had a dau. Lucy, the wife of Charles, son of Sir Toby Pointz, and five sons, FRANCIS, Robert, William, Richard, and Charles. The eldest, FRANCIS LUCAS, esq. of Castle Shane, b. in 1646, was returned to parliament by the county of Monaghan in 1695, but subsequently unseated by petition. He d. about 1705, (administration granted to his son, Francis, the 2nd May, in that year) and left, by Mary his wife, three sons and three daughters, namely, FRANCIS, his heir. EDWARD, successor to his brother. Robert. Anne, m. to - Symes, esq. neskea, in the county of Fermanagh. Elizabeth, m. to William Lee, esq. of Corbollis, of the county of Louth. Sarah, m. to Joseph Warren, esq. Thomasine, m. to Joseph Hammersley, esq. 11. Francis, of Grennan, who m. Mary, daughter of Hugh Savage, esq. of Ardkeen, in Downshire. 1. Mary, m. to Francis Savage, esq. of Ardkeen. II. Anne, m. to John Skelton, esq. III. Jane, m. to the Rev. Joshua Pulleine. Mr. Lucas d. in 1756, and was s. by his grandson, EDWARD LUCAS, esq. of Castle Shane, who represented the county of Monaghan from 1761 until 1775; in the latter year he died, leaving, by Elizabeth Savage, his second wife, Lucy, m. to Hugh Savage, esq. of the The eldest son and successor, county of Downe. Jane, m. to Ennis, esq. The eldest son, FRANCIS LUCAS, esq. of Castle Shane, sat in parliament for the borough of Monaghan from 1713 to 1747. He d. unm. in the latter year, and was s. by his brother, EDWARD LUCAS, esq. of Castle Shane, who m. first, Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas Smyth, esq. of Drumcree, in Westmeath, and secondly, Abigail Hancock, widow of Brooke, esq. By the former he had He FRANCIS LUCAS, esq. of Castle Shane, b. in 1749, unsuccessfully contested the representation of the county of Monaghan, in 1775, against Thomas Jenison, esq. m. Florinda, daughter of Norman, esq. of Legore, in Meath, and dying s. p. in 1789, was s. by his brother, - CHARLES LUCAS, esq. of Castle Shane, barrister-at-law, who m. first, Sarah, dau. of Sir James Hamilton, knt., and secondly, Louisa, daughter of Evatt, esq. of Mount Louise. By the former he left at his decease, in 1796, a son and successor, the present EDWARD LUCAS, esq. of Castle Shane, M.P. Arms-Arg. a fess between six annulets gu. Crest-Issuant from a ducal coronet a demi-griffin. Motto-Stat religione parentum. |
