FEREBEE, FEREBY HERALDRY The Ferebees have many different arms associated with them. In fact, it is an excellent case study to explode the common myth of a "family coat of arms". Ten different arms have been ascribed by heralds to persons with the surname. This would seem to indicate that they were members of unrelated families, but medieval heraldry did not function this way. Arms were created to identify individuals either on the battlefield or on seals. The clerical and administrative role of this family in the Middle Ages has ensured the preservation of many of their seals and arms, this explains the diversity of their heraldry. In a largely iliterate society a document's authenticity was proven by its seal and look alike seals were avoided. This led to the practice of "differencing" or changings paternal arms to avoid confusion, but retain some referance to the person's ancestry. A number of the Ferebee arms are a result of this custom. Arms within the clergy followed the same laws used by the laity, but often clerics chose to add symbols of a religous nature to difference their inherited arms. The large number of men in this clan that went into the priesthood produced arms of this type, several of which are shown below. Below is an illustrated list of the arms attributed to this family in both contemporary sources and in the later heralds' Visitation Rolls. These visitation pedigrees are not reliable and should always be compared against primary sources.

Fereby or Ferby of Kent

Sable 3 goats heads erased argent between a fess ermine.

The arms of Fereby or Ferby of Kent are the best documented of any in the family. They are described in the 1619 Visitation of Kent under the pedigree headed by Andrew Ferby (d.1507). The 1700s historian Philipott mentions seals on deeds of this family dating to Edward II and Edward III with this blazon (Philipott, Villare Cantianum. 2nd ed. 1776, p.320). No crest is mentioned in the 1619 visitation, but Burke's General Armory and Fairbain's Crests list two; 1- a cinquefoil or, 2- rising from a mural coronet or, a fire plate proper between two wings sable. Mural coronets are unusual outside of civic heraldry and usually denote an honorary augmentation for a military victory. The Agincourt Roll entry for John Fereby (d.1441) provides the clue for understanding this crest. It mentions his role in the sack of Meremont castle. The flamming fire plate was one of the personal badges used by Henry V and wings are a common Medieval crest element. So this crest was apparently granted by Henry V to honor John Fereby's valor in this great battle. The 1559 Visitation of Co. Worcester pedigree of the Coningsby family states that Sir Humphrey Coningsby Knt., Lord Chief Justice married Alice a daughter and heir of Fereby of Co. Linclon. This same blazon is shown as the fifth quarter of their arms. Thomas Fereby or Ferby of Paul's Cray Kent married in 1526 Elizabeth, daughter of Sir William Coningsby Justice of the King's Bench and grandaughter of Sir Humphrey (op.cit. Visitation of Kent 1621). The Coningsby's were also enffeofed on a Ferby manor at Herts in the late 1400s. The Coningsby family had its origin in Lincolnshire and moved to Hertford in the late 1400s. The tomb of Margaret (d. 1598) dau. of Sir William Coningsby at Bottisham church in Cambridgeshire shows her arms impaling the arms of her husband Sir Robert Alington (1520 - 1552). On this shield, the third quartering for Coningsby is: Sable, a fess ermine between 3 goat's heads erased Argent ( _Cambridgeshire Churches, p. 150). The 1623 Visitation of Co. Surrey pedigree of the Day family states that Luce, the daughter of Thomas Fereby of Paul's Cray Kent married Richard Sayer of St. Mary's Cray Kent, the son of Henry Sayer of Oakley Surrey. Two variants of this blazon appear in Berry's armorial catalogue. The first is listed for Ferraby; Gules 3 goats heads erased or between a fess or. The second is for John Ferby circa 1460; Sable 3 goats heads erased ermine between a fess argent.

Fereby - Greenfield The Fereby arms of three goats' heads also appears as a quartering in the ams of the Greenfield (or Grenefeld, or Grenvile) family of Lincolnshire. This is clear evidence that the Kent family was related to the families of Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. This quartering is evidently the result of a Fereby heiress' marriage ca. 1300 (?) into the family of the archbisop of York, William Greenfield (d. 1315) that preceeded William de Melton also a Fereby kinsman (as he states in his will). The arms were passed down to the Girlington and Newcomen (see entry below) families of Lincolnshire by the last Greenfield heiresses in the 1500s. In 1290 the Dawtrey lands passed in to the hands of Robert de Grenefeld, the brother of William de Grenefeld, who became Archbishop of York in 1304. The Grenefelds were people of influence and major landowners in the area for the next two and a half centuries. Rector Frederick Selincourt Colman in his book 'The History of the Parish of Barwick-in-Elmet' (1908), from which much of this chapter has been composed, includes numerous land transfers in Barnbow and elsewhere. On the death of Henry de Lacy in 1308/9, his lands, including the manor of Barwick, were incorporated into the vast Lancaster estates (later the Duchy of Lancaster) following the marriage of the de Lacy heiress to the Thomas,2nd. Earl of Lancaster. William de Grenefeld, son of the aforementioned Robert, initially supported his lord, Earl Thomas of Lancaster, in a revolt against King Edward II, but withdrew his support and was granted a pardon on 1 November 1318, "for all felonies and trespasses committed by him up to the 7 August last, the robbery of the Cardinal Legate only excepted". What punishment was meted out to him for this crime against such a prominent person we do not know but the Grenefeld family continued to prosper, unlike Earl Thomas who was beheaded in 1322 for his part in the revolt. There is no doubt that the Grenefeld family prospered during the 14th. century. In the Poll Tax rolls of 1379, William Grenefeld, the younger brother and heir of the aforementioned Thomas, is listed with the small merchants and craftsmen, and is assessed with his wife at 3s.4d., much the largest sum in the list for the township of Barwick, which included the manors of Barwick and Scholes. He is described as a 'franklyn', usually translated as 'freeholder'. Elena and Johanna Grenefeld are included as single adult women assessed at 4d. each. Randolph del Scholes, who may have been related to the aforementioned Nicholas, is assessed with his wife at the lower limit of 4d., as are the great majority of married couples. On 2 February 1385/6, William Grenefeld, the franklyn, and his son John, with others, were responsible for the killing of William del Kyrke of Barnbow. We do not know the details of the case but William received a royal pardon on 11 May 1389, whereas his son had to wait another five years until 4 March 1394 for his pardon. The Grenefelds seemed to live dangerously but they continued to prosper. It was in 1424/5, while the youthful Henry VI, grandson of Henry IV, was lord of the manor of Barwick, that another survey was made. With regard to the property described, the survey differs little from that of 1341. The same messuages and land can be identified as the names of the 1341 tenants are given. In 1424/5, 10 messuages and 15 bovates were held by only four free tenants. John Grenefeld, son of William the 'franklyn' of 1379, had increased the family holding to 6 messuages and 8« bovates of land, and had clearly become the dominant landowner in Barnbow..... In the lay subsidy returns of 1524, which record taxes paid to finance the foreign wars of Henry VIII (see 'The Barwicker' No.16), John Grenefeld, grandson of the John Grenefeld in the 1424/5 survey, was assessed for tax on land valued at œ20 and he paid 20... John Grenefeld, the last of the family to bear the ancient name, died at a great age on 6 January, 1540/1. At the time of his death he held in Barnbow the capital messuage (Barnbow Hall), three other messuages, two cottages, 40 acres of arable land and 18 closes of meadow and pasture, for which he paid rent to the lord of the manor. He held, as the sub-tenant of William Gascoigne, five messuages, 40 acres of arable land, 80 acres of meadow, 70 acres of pasture 'with appurtenances'. He also held other land in Yorkshire. John Grenefeld outlived his two daughters and his estates went to their two sons, Nicholas Girlington and John Newcomen, who was married to Alice daughter of John Gascoigne of Lasingcroft. In 1548, Nicholas Girlington brought an action against Thomas Hardcastle and others who "with staves and other weapons in a riotous manner wrongfully entered into a meadow called Lentyng and other closes and expelled the plaintiff". Hardcastle replied that John Grenefeld had surrendered the premises to a forebear of his and that he had enjoyed the use of the premises for many years. The case was lost. Despite living dangerously at times, the Grenefeld family had prospered during their two and half centuries in Barnbow. In 1548, Nicholas Girlington sold his share of the estate to this cousin John Newcomen. In 1568, the latter sold Barnbow Hall and its appurtenances to Richard Gascoigne, his wife's brother, who a year later acquired the remainder of Newcomen' s interest in Barnbow and the rest of the old Grenefeld estates in the parish. The Gascoigne family were to remain major landowners in Barnbow until the 20th. century. (Bantoft, Arthur. "Barnbow History" on web site at www.hjsmith.clara.co.uk/5713.htm) Flower's 1563 _Visitation of Yorkshire says that "Nicholas Gyrlyngton, son & heyr of William Gyrlyngton and Kateren doughter of Sir Robert Hilyard ", and in a footnote "His daughter Anne, wife of Sir Christopher Wray, Chief Justice of England (d.1592) bore on her arms ;1. Girlington, 2. Grenvile, 3. Stevenson ?, 4. "sable, a fess ermine between 3 goats' heads argent [Fereby]" (Harleian Society. London, 1881, vol. 15, p. 140). Maddison's _Lincolnshire Pedigrees states that; "Nicholas Girlington (d. 1552) married first Anne Portington, and second to Isabel daughter and heiress of John Greville of Barnborough co. York. Issue, Anne = Sir Christopher Wray knt. of Glentworth" (Harleian Society, London, 1903, vol. 2, pp. 404-5). The arms described above are engraved on the Wray monument in the church of Glentworth, Lincolnshire (op.cit. Flower's). To see photographs of this monument please go to the link below.

Nycolas Ferby of co. York c.1465

Quarterly azure and argent with a cross formy counterchanged and a leopard's head or on the cross.

The arms of Nycolas Ferby are recorded on an armorial roll of the mid 1400s in the Harley Collection (MS #?). Nicholas Feryby, chaplain of Connisbough in the W. Riding of Yorkshire (near Reedness and Thorne) made a will dated 17 Aug. 1471 and proved 5 Sep. 1471 (PCY, 4, 34).

Thomas Fereby seal c. 1415

A cross with a mullet in the first quarter (no colors given) Crest or badge; a pelican prpr. (i.e. wings raised and "vulning" herself).

This seal belonged to Thomas Fereby, clerk to Henry V, and the document it is attached to is dated c. 1415. There were several contemporay clerks of this name at Westminster; one was baron of the Exchequer ca. 1405-10, and one secretary to Queen Joan between 1399 and ca.1427.

Arms of Ferreby

Sable 3 lions heads erased argent between a chevron argent.

This blazon is listed by Berry with no note about ownership. A merchant token minted by George Ferebee, mercer of Cirencester Glos., in 1665 shows this arms on the obverse and his name and date on the reverse ( Catalogue of English Merchant Tokens of the 1600s). Ida Gandy in her book on the Ferebees of Wiltshire and Cirencester states that the family's arms were "3 leopards heads between a chevron". She does not cite her sources (Gandy, Ida. The Church Under the Little Steeple, the Life of a Country Parson. London, 1960). On a funerary monument circa 1690 of the Langrishe family of Knocktopher Abbey Co. Kilkenny Ireland a variant of this blazon appears as a quartering in their arms: Argent, 3 lion's heads between a chevron Sable. It is said to represent Ferraby (Crotty, Gerald. "Langrishe Quarterings", ""Old Kilkenny Rview", vol. 49, pp.179-87, 1997). This family went to Ireland about 1650 during the rule of Cromwell. They previously held the manors of Langrish, Bordean, and Ramsdean in the parish of East Meon, Hampshire near Peterfield. John Langrish is mentioned in a deed holdng the manor of Langrish in 1419. Langrish House (now a hotel) was sold to the Long family ca. 1650. Sir Hercules Langrishe MP, the champion for Irish rights in the 1700s, was a member of this family.

Fereby (Newcomen)

Sable 3 leopards heads argent between a chevron argent, a bordure argent.

This quartering for Fereby appears in the arms of Elias Newcomen in the Visitation of Devon and also on a brass on his tomb at Stoke Fleming. Thomas Newcomen (1663-1729), son of Elias, was one of the inventors of the steam engine (Worthy, Charles. "Devonshire Parishes" London 1889, pp. 371-72). "The record of the Newcomen family, in the Collage of Arms, begins with Hugo Newcomen of Saltfleetby, Lincolnshire fl. ca. 1190; the next important record is of Sir Robert Newcomen of London, grandson of Brian Newcomen of Saltfleetby, he was created a baronet on the 30th.December, 1625, the title became extinct on the death of Sir Thomas Newcomen, 8th  baronet on the 27th. April 1789. From this family was directly descended Elias Newcomen of Stoke Fleming in Devon, whose great grandson Thomas Newcomen, born at Dartmouth, was the inventor of the steam engine. The Newcomen house at Theddlethorpe, Lincs was only demolished about 1840 and the Newcomen tombs in the chancel at Theddlethorpe All Saints are clearly marked. But at Saltfleetby where the family appeared to have lived a matter of some 600 years there is only one identifiable Newcomen tomb that of Margaret, dating from the 15th century and situated just below the rood screen in the nave, at Saltfleetby All Saints. " (Bell, J. _History of Saltfleetby, online at www.saltfleetby.co.uk.) The Newcomen pedigree in Maddison's _Lincolnshire Pedigrees states; Bryan Newcomen of Saltfleetby married first Margaret daughter and co-heir of John Greenfield, and secondly to Anne Purley. Charles Newcomen of London, son of Bryan and Margaret, married Joan daughter of Richard Nightingale of Essex. Elias was the first son of said Charles Newcomen and he served as chaplain to the Lord Treasurer in 1602. Elias married Prophetia Strawbrigge (Harleian Society, London, 1903, vol. 2, pp. 713-5).   This blazon resembles the arms of Ferebee of Cirencester which is the same except for the substitution of lions heads for leopards. Ida Gandy in her history of this family states that their arms were 3 leopards heads between a chevron, she does not state her source. The blazon of; Sable 3 leopards heads erased between a chevron argent, is given in a heraldic roll from the era of Edward III for William de Rednesse (MS #?). Thomas de Feryby was co-defendant in a lawsuit in 1409 charged with an assault and seizure of "Rednesse manor" Yorks (Reedness near Thorne, W. Riding, Yorks) (PRO, C 1/3/141).

Fereby

Gules 2 lions heads erased argent between a bend compony azure & argent charged with 3 leopards heads or, all surronded by a bordure compony or & azure.

This blazon appears in Burke's General Armory, no notes accompany the entry. It is also listed in Papworth's Ordinaries as "Ferby of Cuenthorpe" (Scunthorpe, Linconlnshire located about 17 miles south of Barton). In style it appears to be a 1600s to 1700s era arms. A crest is; a lion's head erased or. This arms is interesting because it combines elements found on other Fereby blazons. The golden leopards heads on a bend compony of argent and azure repeat the colors and elements of the arms of Nycolas Ferby of Yorkshire. The lions heads erased argent are found on other Fereby arms, but this is a common charge and may be coincidence.

Emma de Fereby & Gerard de Useflete

This achievement: Argent, a chevron between 3 boars' heads couped Azure, is recorded in William Flower's 1563-4 Visitation of Yorkshire as the 6th quartering in the arms of the Hawdenby (Haldenby) familiy of Yorkshire (Harleian Society, vol. 15, p. 158-9). This entry for "Hawdenby" gives arms as; 1. [Haldenby], 2. paly of 6 ar. & az. on a chief or a lion passant gules [Luddington], 3. Ar. on a bend az. 3 lions passant guardant of the first [Gawtree], 4. [Usfleet], 5. [Furnival], 6. "Argent, a chevron between three boars' heads Azure {Fereby]". No crest is given. There is a note that in the 1585 Visitation it is given as; 1,2,3, as in above shield, then 6,4,5.

Flower's 1563-4 Visitation entry for the Stapleton family (p.297) mentions only that "Sir Myles Stapleton of Wyghell, knight = dougheter & one of theyres of Sir Jerard Usflet" These coats of arms also found on funeral monuments of these families commemorate the 1330s marriage of EMMA FERRIBY to Gerard Usflete (Uflete, Ousefleet) son of John de Usflete (d. bef. 1304) and Lora or Loretta de Furnival (m. bef. 1287, d.aft.1314) the heiress of the Furnival lands in Swanland and North Ferriby. This Gerard Usflete evidently married thrre times, first to Margaret dau. and co-heir of Sir John Armine knt., secondly to Emma de Ferriby with no issue (?), and thirdly to Isabel de Ella by whom he had male issue. His son, Sir Gerard Usflete, knt. (c.1340 - 1406) is in the retinue of John of Gaunt in France, sheriff of Yorks 1383, marries Elinor dau. of Ralph Legard of Anlaby. He was buried in the church of N. Ferriby. Issue: 1-Sir Gerard d.s.p.1420 who m. Elizabeth (1372 - 1425), dau of Richard Fitzalan Earl of Arundel, 2-Joan, m.Sir Miles Stapleton of Wighill, 3-Katherine, m. William Beauchamp (d.1422) of Powick, 4-Isabel, m. Robert Holdunby, 5-Anne, m. Thomas Bozun of Syerston, two illegitimate sons, 6-John and 7- Leon by a mistress named Anne (issue from will) see ("Visitation of Yorks 1563/4 by Wm.Flower" Harleian Society v. 15, 1881, p. 158-9, Hawdenby pedigree) also ("Register of Rich.Fleming 1420-31", Canterbury &York Soc.vol.73(1984), p.31). Inside Adlingfleet church near Ousefleet, Yorkshire, there are two coats-of-arms for the Haldenbie (Haldenby) family. One is on the side of a ffrancis Haldenbie (Haldenby's) tomb ca.1580s-1590s and has no crest. The other Haldenby coat-of-arms in Adlingfleet church does have a crest of an erect arm holding a cup or a chalice, this pre-dating the other coat-of-arms on Francis's tomb, although both have the same 8 quarterings thus: Top left to right: Haldenby. Gawtree. Usflete. Furnival. Bottom left to right: Feraby/Ferriby. Luddington. Ella/Ellay. Wentworth. There is also a small Wentworth shield on another side of Francis's tomb, he having married an Elizabeth Wentworth of Elmsall, Yorkshire (personal communication from Raymond E.O. Ella, March 2004). Funeral monuments and a stained glass window dedicated to the Haldenby family with their arms complete with Usflete, Furnival, and Ferriby quarters identical to the ones in the Aldingfleet church existed in the old parish church of North Ferriby, Yorks. They were destroyed when the church was demolished in the 1800s. The illustration of the Ferriby arms used above is traced from an illustration of this lost window in Bulman's history of North Ferriby (Bullman, John _History of North Ferriby, privately printed, 1982, pp. 25-7). Another related group of funerary monumets belong to the Crompton family of Cherry Burton and Great Drifield, Yorkshire. In Cherry Burton parish church there are two brass plaques that are said to have been found by workmen when digging in the churchyard, then straitened out and put on a wooden base/plaque and placed on a wall back inside the church. Some say that they could have been brass coffin plates, but I have seen these when on my Yorkshire visitation last year and I differ from that. For both brass plaques there are uneven holes where fixing nails have been put through to place on the wooden base. I would say that both brass plaques were indeed once inside the church before workmen found them in the churchyard and that they were once embedded into a stone slab or on a tomb that is no-longer there. The quarterings are thus: First plaque on the left of wooden base: First half on left side is Crompton (3 lions on). The second half on the right side of this shield are: Haldenby, Luddington and Gawtree. Underneath: Ferriby (with 3 hogs/boars heads between a chevron), Usflete and Furnival. Second plaque on right of wooden base: All of first half on left side is Crompton. All of second half on right is Useflete. In the Yorkshire visitation pedigrees, e.g. 1665 by W.Dugdale, there are two Crompton pedigrees listing the connection with an Anne Haldenby. In the Yorks. visitations there are also Wentworth pedigrees and a mention of their coats-of-arms, e.g. 3 leopards heads/faces between a chevron (personal communication from Raymond E. O. Ella, March 2004).