During the Norman Conquest the land taken from the Saxon holders was divided among the companions of William the Conqueror. Each division of land was called a barony and were granted to the knights. Gilbert de Venables owned the Barony of Kinderton which consisted of six dependencies one of which was Astbury which contained Brereton. This is evidenced in the Domesday Book.
Through out the history of the family you will see many family members named William who were named after William the Conqueror. It seems that each male in the family would name one of his sons William. This makes things complicated when trying to determine the genealogy.
A description of Brereton is given in George Ormerod's history of Cheshire,
"Breerton standeth upon the London Way, two miles north from Sandbach, and hath yearly a Fair, which is held on Breerton Green on Lammasday, being the first day of August, (when the lambs are taken away from the ewes). Not far off is the Parish Church of Breerton, and near unto the church the goodly Manor Place, newly builded (1586), all of brick; the like whereof is not in all the country again. Therefore, it is not to be omitted, and not so much for the buildings as for the number of ancient and valiant knights and gentlemen who had, and have, their origin from thence."
Brereton Hall is located on a slope on the bank of the stream Croco,which collected into a lake known as Blackmere or Brereton's Lake.
In Sir Philip Sydney's "Seven Wonders of England," are the following lines,
"The Breretons have a lake, which, when the sun
Approaching warms (not else), dead logs up sends
From hideous depth,. which tribute when it ends,
Sore sign it is the Lord's last thread is spun."
This is because there is an old legend that claims that on the night of the beheading of William Brereton the lake threw up black logs from the bottom.
Queen Elizabeth laid the foundation stone of Brereton Hall because she remained connected to the Brereton family because William had stood by her mother's interests even to his own death.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Monday, December 7, 2009
Distinguished Family
The Breretons during the thirteenth to sixteenth centuries were among the most distinguished families in England. They intermarried with other noble families like the Caringtons, Cholmondeleys, Davenports, Hanmers, Traftords, Radclyffs, Edgertons, Corbets, Stanleys, Booths, etc.
The early ancestors spelled their name Brerton, Bretone, Breerton, Brierton, and Brereton. I have found over 175 different spellings of this ancient surname. The lack of standardized spelling in the English language at the time means that many spellings for the surname exist today. Many families are unaware that they are actually descendants of this family.
Sir William Brereton the IX in 1516 was the first person to adopt the current spelling and also the first person to drop the de from the surname.
Some of the Irish branch of the family used the Brierton spelling. A John Brierton in 1602 discovered the land of Martha's vineyard and Cape Cod along with Captain Bartholomew Gosnold. He wrote a book addressed to Sir Walter Raleigh on his discoveries which can be read on line through the public archives. He helped build the first English fort and storehouses and planted wheat, barley, and oats in New England.
His account of his journeys inspired John Smith (best known from the story of Pocahontas) to travel to this new found land to help settle it.
It is also believed that the John Brierton returned to England following his exploration of Massachusetts and shared tales of his adventures with his close friend William Shakespeare. It is believed that John Brierton's stories inspired Shakespeare's play the Tempest.
Sir William Brereton Bart. IV of Handford known as the "Warrior" during the Civil war obtained a large land grant in the northeastern portion of Massachusetts from Sir Fortunatus Gorges the father of the Plymouth colony in 1620.
The early ancestors spelled their name Brerton, Bretone, Breerton, Brierton, and Brereton. I have found over 175 different spellings of this ancient surname. The lack of standardized spelling in the English language at the time means that many spellings for the surname exist today. Many families are unaware that they are actually descendants of this family.
Sir William Brereton the IX in 1516 was the first person to adopt the current spelling and also the first person to drop the de from the surname.
Some of the Irish branch of the family used the Brierton spelling. A John Brierton in 1602 discovered the land of Martha's vineyard and Cape Cod along with Captain Bartholomew Gosnold. He wrote a book addressed to Sir Walter Raleigh on his discoveries which can be read on line through the public archives. He helped build the first English fort and storehouses and planted wheat, barley, and oats in New England.
His account of his journeys inspired John Smith (best known from the story of Pocahontas) to travel to this new found land to help settle it.
It is also believed that the John Brierton returned to England following his exploration of Massachusetts and shared tales of his adventures with his close friend William Shakespeare. It is believed that John Brierton's stories inspired Shakespeare's play the Tempest.
Sir William Brereton Bart. IV of Handford known as the "Warrior" during the Civil war obtained a large land grant in the northeastern portion of Massachusetts from Sir Fortunatus Gorges the father of the Plymouth colony in 1620.
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Knights
Knights were once elite warriors with high social status whose lives were dedicated to fighting. Knights were part of the ruling class in Europe. They were considered nobles and eventually land holding became a requirement to be a knight. Estates were often castles which gave the lineage its surname and it became the unit of social power.
The first family member on record according to my research was not a Brereton at all. His name was Gilbert de Venables because in those early days people were identified by the place they were from. The word de in the french language means "of". Gilbert de Venables was from the town of Venables in France. He changed his name to Gilbert de Brereton when he took over the land during the Norman Conquest in England.
The family name is therefore derived from a place and not a person. When doing searches on the family name for genealogical purposes it is important to remember that some people with the last name de Brereton are not actually from the same family tree but are actually people who just lived in Brereton.
Knights were often rewarded for their service through the granting of more land known as a fief. The knights were known for their bravery, honor, loyalty and service to women known as chivalry which attracted the aristocracy into also defining themselves as knights by the late 1200’s. Even kings began to refer to themselves as knights and by the 1300’s had founded a formal order of knighthood.
These changes raised the cost of becoming a knight as well as the social and military obligations causing the decline of the knights by the 1500’s. The Brereton family had knights in the family following this period which was indicative of great wealth. I have an account of the land holdings recorded in a will of one of the Brereton family members which I will share with you at a later date to give you some sense of their wealth. The family held thousands of acres of land in England and other parts of the United Kingdom.
A true knight had to also be a good Christian. Part of the knight’s education involved learning to read Latin. The knights were often called upon to read the liturgy at church. The Brereton family motto is “Opitulante Deo” which means “God Assisting Us” or “With the aid of God”.
The Christian roots have remained in the family. The lost branch of the Brereton family had several generations of Reverends. One of the members of this branch also went on to influence great Christian men like A.W. Tozer and set up a camp for pastors in the United States in the early 1800's.
I have given several clues through this blog and if you follow the blog closely you may be able to figure out the members of the lost branch.
The first family member on record according to my research was not a Brereton at all. His name was Gilbert de Venables because in those early days people were identified by the place they were from. The word de in the french language means "of". Gilbert de Venables was from the town of Venables in France. He changed his name to Gilbert de Brereton when he took over the land during the Norman Conquest in England.
The family name is therefore derived from a place and not a person. When doing searches on the family name for genealogical purposes it is important to remember that some people with the last name de Brereton are not actually from the same family tree but are actually people who just lived in Brereton.
Knights were often rewarded for their service through the granting of more land known as a fief. The knights were known for their bravery, honor, loyalty and service to women known as chivalry which attracted the aristocracy into also defining themselves as knights by the late 1200’s. Even kings began to refer to themselves as knights and by the 1300’s had founded a formal order of knighthood.
These changes raised the cost of becoming a knight as well as the social and military obligations causing the decline of the knights by the 1500’s. The Brereton family had knights in the family following this period which was indicative of great wealth. I have an account of the land holdings recorded in a will of one of the Brereton family members which I will share with you at a later date to give you some sense of their wealth. The family held thousands of acres of land in England and other parts of the United Kingdom.
A true knight had to also be a good Christian. Part of the knight’s education involved learning to read Latin. The knights were often called upon to read the liturgy at church. The Brereton family motto is “Opitulante Deo” which means “God Assisting Us” or “With the aid of God”.
The Christian roots have remained in the family. The lost branch of the Brereton family had several generations of Reverends. One of the members of this branch also went on to influence great Christian men like A.W. Tozer and set up a camp for pastors in the United States in the early 1800's.
I have given several clues through this blog and if you follow the blog closely you may be able to figure out the members of the lost branch.
Monday, November 23, 2009
Knights of the Shire
Knights of the Shire for the County of Chester Under each Monarch at the time.
King Richard I
Sir Ranulphus or Radulphus Brereton, of Brereton was one of the knights of the Crusades
King Henvry VII
Sir Randolph Brereton
King Henry VIII
Sir William Brereton of Malpas Groom of the privy chamber
Sir Urian Brereton of Handford Groom of the privy chamber (William's younger brother)
Two other brothers were also in royal service. I have not been able to find their names yet.
After Sir William Brereton was beheaded by the king the king placed his younger brother Urian in the same positions at his court as William had held. Anne Boleyn's daughter Queen Elizabeth took special interest in the family because she knew what William had done to support her mother. It is said that she laid the foundation stone of Brereton Hall. To see pictures of Brereton Hall and to get more information go to www.brereton.org.
Queen Elizabeth
William Brereton, of Brereton, esq.
James I
William Brereton, of Brereton, knight William Brereton, of Ashley, esq
Charles I
Sir William Brereton, of Handford, bart.
Charles II
Lord William Brereton of Leighlin
Barons of the Exchequer of Chester
Owen Salusbury Brereton, of Shotwick, esq.
King Richard I
Sir Ranulphus or Radulphus Brereton, of Brereton was one of the knights of the Crusades
King Henvry VII
Sir Randolph Brereton
King Henry VIII
Sir William Brereton of Malpas Groom of the privy chamber
Sir Urian Brereton of Handford Groom of the privy chamber (William's younger brother)
Two other brothers were also in royal service. I have not been able to find their names yet.
After Sir William Brereton was beheaded by the king the king placed his younger brother Urian in the same positions at his court as William had held. Anne Boleyn's daughter Queen Elizabeth took special interest in the family because she knew what William had done to support her mother. It is said that she laid the foundation stone of Brereton Hall. To see pictures of Brereton Hall and to get more information go to www.brereton.org.
Queen Elizabeth
William Brereton, of Brereton, esq.
James I
William Brereton, of Brereton, knight William Brereton, of Ashley, esq
Charles I
Sir William Brereton, of Handford, bart.
Charles II
Lord William Brereton of Leighlin
Barons of the Exchequer of Chester
Owen Salusbury Brereton, of Shotwick, esq.
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Royal Lineage
According to Ormerod's pedigree of the Breretons the family are royal blood descendants from the maternal side back to Kenneth the first Celtic King of Scotland A.D. 850, and to Egbert, the first Saxon King of England, and are also related to William the Conqueror's sister Margaret .
Many of the Brereton family members also held high offices in the courts of Henry VII, Henry VIII, Queen Elizabeth, James the I, Charles I and Charles II. Probably the most well known of the family members serving the royal family would be William Brereton. The reason he is best known is because he was beheaded after being accused of having an affair with King Henry VIII's second wife Anne Boleyn. Later someone discovered that the affair had been an impossibility because Anne had been sequestered following the birth of her daughter. Unfortunately, the punishment couldn't be reversed. The television show "The Tudors" has brought recent notoriety to William Brereton in North America.
The most interesting thing about William Brereton is he held the office of groomsmen of the privy chamber of King Henry VIII. He was responsible for presenting all financial matters to the King. He kept careful letters and journals. After the beheading all of his papers were archived and offer to us today some valuable insight into the politics and handling of royal matters at the time. His journals offer more history on the Tudors than any other writings available for that time period. I am fortunate to hold a copy of his journals.
The details of Williams trial are also held in the archives for England. In the documents his name is spelled two different ways. Brereton as the English form and Bryerton as the Latin form.
Keep following this blog and you will discover some of the contents of his journal and discover the lost branch of the family.
Many of the Brereton family members also held high offices in the courts of Henry VII, Henry VIII, Queen Elizabeth, James the I, Charles I and Charles II. Probably the most well known of the family members serving the royal family would be William Brereton. The reason he is best known is because he was beheaded after being accused of having an affair with King Henry VIII's second wife Anne Boleyn. Later someone discovered that the affair had been an impossibility because Anne had been sequestered following the birth of her daughter. Unfortunately, the punishment couldn't be reversed. The television show "The Tudors" has brought recent notoriety to William Brereton in North America.
The most interesting thing about William Brereton is he held the office of groomsmen of the privy chamber of King Henry VIII. He was responsible for presenting all financial matters to the King. He kept careful letters and journals. After the beheading all of his papers were archived and offer to us today some valuable insight into the politics and handling of royal matters at the time. His journals offer more history on the Tudors than any other writings available for that time period. I am fortunate to hold a copy of his journals.
The details of Williams trial are also held in the archives for England. In the documents his name is spelled two different ways. Brereton as the English form and Bryerton as the Latin form.
Keep following this blog and you will discover some of the contents of his journal and discover the lost branch of the family.
Friday, November 20, 2009
In the summer of 1941 my grandmother traveled by steamship to visit her uncle in Cleveland who was in upper management with the book publisher Grolier. During the course of her journey she kept a journal of her travels. When I discovered the journal I thought it would make a fascinating story. As I began to write the story I began to ask myself questions about the family history.
This led me to explore the family history further back. I never imagined that I would end up back in the year 1066. How I got that far back in history is a story for another day. Still I have questions some I still don’t have answers for but maybe together we can figure out the mysteries that still remain hidden.
This led me to explore the family history further back. I never imagined that I would end up back in the year 1066. How I got that far back in history is a story for another day. Still I have questions some I still don’t have answers for but maybe together we can figure out the mysteries that still remain hidden.
Welcome
November 8, 2009 by thelostbrereton
Two years ago I began to research my grandmother’s maiden name for a book I planned to write. A month ago through some divine intervention I discovered the surname had been changed from its original form because of the lack of standardized language in the early history of the United Kingdom.
Follow my blog as I reveal some of the research I am doing for my book and discover one of the richest family histories available in the world. Keep checking back frequently and you will discover how the lost Brereton’s resemble their ancestors. I will uncover where the relatives of William Brereton who was beheaded with Anne Boleyn ended up and what genetic traits continued through the lost history? The answers might surprise and amaze you.
November 8, 2009 by thelostbrereton
Two years ago I began to research my grandmother’s maiden name for a book I planned to write. A month ago through some divine intervention I discovered the surname had been changed from its original form because of the lack of standardized language in the early history of the United Kingdom.
Follow my blog as I reveal some of the research I am doing for my book and discover one of the richest family histories available in the world. Keep checking back frequently and you will discover how the lost Brereton’s resemble their ancestors. I will uncover where the relatives of William Brereton who was beheaded with Anne Boleyn ended up and what genetic traits continued through the lost history? The answers might surprise and amaze you.
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