Proof of Southworth royal descent (part 2)
Jim Stevens
part 2 of 2:
This petition dated July 22, 1938 must have been submitted some time later
than that date and is logically inserted
here.
July 22, 1938
Committee on Heraldry,
New England Historic Genealogical Society
9 Ashburton Place,
Boston, Massachusetts
Gentlemen:
In registering the Southworth arm (cf. number 152) in the Second Roll the
Committee finds, in the Register for July
1932: -
1. That the descent of Edward Southworth of Leyden, Holland from the
Samlesbury, Lancashire Southworths
"seemed very improbable";
2. "and, if the coat (Edward's in an embroidery among the effects of
Governor Bradford at Plymouth,
Massachusetts) in the embroidery was the coat of the Lancashire family, it
was differenced to a most extraordinary
extent";
3. "While they (American Southworths) and the Lancashire family very likely
has a common origin, the embroidery
furnishes strong evidence that the relationship was very remote."
However, Edward Southworth's coat was registered as the one, in all
probability, belonging to the American
Southworths, on the finding that it was the same as that assigned to a
Thomas Southworth in the Willement Roll of
Arms made about 1395.
Now, from the Willement Roll (termed the Surrey Roll by Joseph Foster in
Some Feudal Coats of Arms) we have:-
"Thomas Southworth (Richard the Second Roll. 1377 - 1399) bore sable a
chevron between three crosses patonce
argent", which, as the committee states is the self-same shield that is in
the Bradford embroidery, although Bolton's
American Armory describes the latter sable a chevron between three crosses
flory (i.e. crosslet?) argent. Further
more the Surrey Roll assigns to Christopher Southworth the same arms (with
a crest) as borne by Thomas
Southworth; Also the Ballard Roll (Edward the Fourth 1461 - 1483) gives
Christopher Southworth the same shield
as Thomas, in which 'Crosses flory are intended'."
We identify the said Thomas Southworth as:-
Sir Thomas Southworth of Samlesbury, Lancashire, born knighted 1380, died
April 27, 1432, son of Sir John
Southworth, who died at the siege of Harfleur, France October 1415. Richard
Southworth, born 1420, died
December 21, 1467, succeeded his father, said Sir Thomas Southworth. Sir
Christopher Southworth, knighted
1482, died 1502, succeeded his father Richard Southworth.
We identify this Sir Christopher Southworth as he of the Surrey and Ballard
Rolls. Sir John Southworth, knighted
February 18, 1503 - 4 died 1519, succeeded his father, Sir Christopher
Southworth. This Sir John Southworth
bore, sable a chevron between three cross crosslets argent.
Sir Thomas Southworth, died 1546, succeeded his father, Sir John
Southworth, died 1519.
Sir John Southworth, born about 1521, knighted 1547, died November 3, 1595,
succeeded his father Sir Thomas
Southworth, died 1546. The Sir John Southworth bore sable a chevron between
three cross crosslets argent, crest a
bull's head erased sable, horns argent. He was the grandfather of Thomas
and Edward Southworth, whom he
mentioned in his will.
Sir John Southworth, died November 3, 1595 was taken up for recusancy and
imprisoned at Manchester,
Lancashire in 1581, bailed in 1584 and by an Order in Council directed to
reside in London with his eldest son,
Thomas Southworth, and which he did. Sir John Southworth was released and
returned to Samlesbury in 1594.
Thomas Southworth, born 1548 and died 1617 (was the first Protestant in the
family) succeeded his father, Sir
John Southworth, died 1595.
The line of descent shown above is confirmed in "A History of the Ancient
Hall of Samlesbury" by James Croston
of London, England, published by Whittingham and Wilkins at the Chiswick
Press, 1871.
The table of descent on a double quatro chart is inserted between pages 160
and 161.
These are all in the main line of the Southworths of Samlesbury,
Lancashire. It is noteworthy that in every instance
the field was sable, the charges argent. We maintain that Edward Southworth
of Leyden, Holland, where he
married Alice Carpenter, May 28, 1613, was born 1590, died 1620, the
seventh and youngest son of Thomas
Southworth, died 1617, of the Samlesbury main line.
Constant Southworth, born 1614 in Leyden, Holland, died March 10, 1678,
Duxbury, Massachusetts and Thomas
Southworth, born 1616 in Leyden, Holland, died December 8, 1669 in
Plymouth, Massachusetts, were sons of
Edward and Alice (Carpenter) Southworth.
Constant Southworth came to Plymouth, Massachusetts, in 1628, as is
authenticated by Colonial records. Thomas
Southworth came soon after, possibly by way of Cape Ann or Salem in 1629.
They did not come with their mother
on the Ann in 1623.
Croston's table of descent was confirmed by Mister Joseph Baron,
antiquarian of Blackburn, Lancashire, and
author of "Ribble Land", published by John Heywood and Company, Deansgate,
Manchester, Lancashire, in
which occur noteworthy references to the Southworths of Samlesbury. Mister
Baron in 1893, personally declared
to Mister Horatius W. Southworth, a reputable gentleman, of the
Springfield, Massachusetts, Southworths, that
Edward Southworth of Leyden, Holland was the son of Thomas Southworth of
Samlesbury.
Doctor Samuel G. Webber in his Genealogy of the Southworths (1905)
disproves the theory of Winsor in his
History of Duxbury, Massachusetts, that Edward Southworth of Leyden,
Holland, was the son of Thomas
Southworth, Recorder of Wells, Somersetshire, second son of Edward
Southworth, merchant of London, son of
Christopher Southworth, second son of Sir John Southworth of Samlesbury,
died 1519. Thomas Southworth, the
Recorder had no children.
Furthermore, Doctor Webber, after exhaustive research in the lines of all
Edward Southworths contemporary with
Alice Carpenter, who answered the proper requirements, concludes with -
"the probability is so great as to amount
to a certainty that Edward Southworth of Samlesbury (son of Thomas
Southworth died 1617) was the father of the
Southworths who came to Plymouth, Massachusetts."
Edward Southworth, son of Robert of Welham Southworth in Clarborough,
Nottingham is shown by the visitation
of Nottingham 1569 - 1614 to have been the husband of Ann Elsam in 1614,
and was not the Edward Southworth
who married Alice Carpenter at Leyden, Holland in 1613. The Nottingham
branch of the Southworth family bore
arms, argent a chevron gules between three crosses crosslet sable. These do
not agree with the colorings in the
embroidery of Alice Carpenter Southworth Bradford at Plymouth,
Massachusetts. Edward Southworth, husband of
Alice was not of the Nottingham Southworth branch.
The committee holds that - "the Lancashire Southworth family bore a silver
shield with a black chevron and crosses
crosslet." We contend that these represent reverse colorings, and are of a
branch of the Southworth family
descended from a second son, as from the Visitation of Somersetshire 1623
they are ascribed to Henry of Weeks
Champflower, and Thomas Southworth, Recorder of Wells, sons of Edward
Southworth, merchant of London,
son of Christopher Southworth, second son of Sir John Southworth of
Samlesbury, died 1519.
The quartered arms on the wall of the chapel at Samlesbury reveal first and
fourth quarters with a sable field, while
the second and third are argent. What could be more conclusive that the
mail line bore a sable shield? In justice, the
committees' finding should be corrected. In Doctor Webber's Genealogy is a
picture of the arms in the Samlesbury
Chapel.
Mrs. Mary J. Sibley of Syracuse, New York (M.J.S. of the Boston Transcript
"Southworth" articles) in the issue
of that newspaper for August 31, and November 6, 1931, quoting Doctor Henry
M. Dexter from "English Exiles in
Amsterdam", names as present there a "Mister (gentry) Southworth, Jane
Southworth, doubtless an Aunt or
sister-in-law of Edward Southworth of Samlesbury, who had both, so named;
Also six Pygotts, one named
Matthew. The maternal grandmother of said Edward Southworth was Bridget
Pygott, and she had a son Matthew
Lister, annuitant under Thomas Southworth, father of said Edward
Southworth, as provided in the will of
Matthew's father, Sir William Lister. Later Matthew became a physician to
royalty and was knighted.
Edward Lister, elder brother of Sir Matthew Lister, was a physician in
ordinary to Queen Elizabeth. He lived in
Aldgate, parish of Saint Mary Aldermanbury and was buried within the parish
church. Thus an uncle of Edward
Southworth of Samlesbury lived in Aldgate when Edward Southworth of Leyden
and other Pilgrims were there.
Edward Southworth of Leyden and wife, Alice, lived in Heneage House, Dukes
Place, Aldgate, London, as
evidenced by a letter written to Edward Southworth by Robert Cushman,
business agent of the Pilgrims. The letter
was dated from Dartmouth, England, August 17, 1620 and is now in the
Massachusetts Historical Society archives
at Boston.
Mary J. Sibley - Boston Transcript, August 31, 1931, relates that Sir
Francis Walsingham (who was the Secretary
of State, and a warm friend of Thomas Southworth, father of Edward
Southworth of Samlesbury) lived opposite
Heneage House in Dukes Place, and was responsible for Sir John's freedom on
bail in London, while the latter was
actually under the charge of his son, Thomas Southworth, who with his wife
lived in London, 1584 -1594. Thus it
is likely that Edward Southworth was born there (1590), and it would be
more than a mere coincidence, but natural,
that Edward Southworth should return and live in Dukes Place when in
London, 1620. Walsingham died in
Aldgate, 1590.
Mary J. Sibley - Boston Transcript, November 6, 1931, shows from records of
the Preston, Lancashire, Guild that
Edward Southworth of Samlesbury died young before 1622. Edward Southworth
of Leyden and London likewise
died young, late in 1620, as per his nephew, Nathaniel Morton, Secretary of
Plymouth Colony, in his "New
England Memorial".
Again, Mary J. Sibley - Boston Transcript, November 6, 1931, to quote:-
"With test of known facts I eliminated all
other Edward Southworths I had found in London and elsewhere. Edward
Southworth of Samlesbury stood this
test, and was the only one who did. I made my intensive search to see if it
would reveal any reason why said
Edward Southworth of Samlesbury could not be identified with Edward
Southworth of Leyden, and I found none".
Further:- "I found crosses flory among the arms of the Samlesbury Hall
Southworths, and in their colorings and
since they were the main family all others would have been reversed
colorings. This gives positive identification of
the arms."
Mary J. Sibley - Concludes her Boston Transcript, November 6, 1931, article
with:- "Why should Edward
Southworth's widow and children care to possess a memorial (the arms in the
embroidery) to a deceased member of
the Samlesbury Hall Southworths if it were not our family? And they would
know as to that."
We desire to certify to recognition and thankful appreciation of the work
of the Committee, and trust that we may
not appear over-critical. However, we feel strongly that we are entitled to
reconsideration of the three numbered
citations at top of page 1 herein, as they are at variance with the facts.
We would respectfully request a revision,
which might also show both Thomas and Christopher as having borne the same
arms which were handed down in
America.
Likewise to keep the record straight, - Constant Southworth came to
Plymouth in 1628 and his brother Thomas
Southworth soon after, not "With their mother."
Doctor Bowditch, Secretary of your Committee, has been interviewed, proved
himself most courteous and helpful,
is appraised of this, our present action, and we are encouraged in the
belief that it meets with his approbation.
Respectfully submitted,
Merton K. Southworth, 65 Warren Avenue, Wollaston, Massachusetts
Eugene C. Southworth, Marion Court
Clifford E. Southworth, 9 Colver Street, New London, Conn.
Roswell L. Southworth, 54 Dudley Avenue, Coninicut, R.I.
Melvin D. Southworth, (1558) 6 Crescent Hill, Springfield, Massachusetts
Galward Southworth, 42 Magnolia Terrace, Springfield, Massachusetts
Rev. Franklyn C. Southworth (4229) Maraside, Little Compton, R. I.
Constant Southworth (1555) 4000 Cathedral Avenue, Washington, D. C.
Franklin C. Southworth 521 Ashland Avenue, Buffalo, New York.
H. Brewster Southworth, Garison Road, Hingham, Massachusetts
Clarence E. Southworth. 157 River Street, Braintree, Massachusetts
S. D. Southworth. 714 Washington Street, Braintree, Massachusetts
Charles E. Southworth, 31 Holland Terrace, Needham, Massachusetts
Robert A. Southworth, 14 Midland Street, Boston, Massachusetts
Winthrop M. Southworth, 81 Powers Street, Needham, Massachusetts
George W. Southworth, 23 Lincoln Street, Needham, Massachusetts
Dana B. Southworth, 97 St. Stephen Street, Boston, Massachusetts
George E. Southworth, 2 Southworth Trail, Milford, Conn.
Arthur P. Southworth, 11 Shefield Road, Wakefield, Massachusetts
Constance E. Southworth, 65 Warren Avenue, Wallaston, Massachusetts
Alice H. Southworth, Briarwood, Southern Pines, North Carolina.
Dr. Thomas S. Southworth, 530 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York.
Harriet Southworth, 775 Port Avenue, Hasbing ?
Rev. George S. Southworth, (1560) 538 North Talawan Street, Indianapolis, Ind.
Elisabeth Southworth Harrison, (1557) 347 North Audubon Road, Indianapolis,
Ind.
Dr. Rufas Southworth, (1556) Fauntaire Avenue, Glendale, Ohio.
Dr. John D. Southworth, (1561) 23 Washington Street, Rutland, Vt.
George Asahel Southworth, (4366) 402 College Avenue, Northfield, Minn.
Asahel Dimmick Southworth, 304 East 4th Street, Northfield, Minn.
Southworth Company Paper Manufactures
Established 1839
West Springfield Massachusetts U.S.A.
December 10, 1940
Mister George Asahel Southworth
402 College Street
Northfield, Minnesota
Dear Mister Southworth:
I must apologize for not having acknowledged your valued letter of November
20, 1940. I certainly appreciate the
names you have given me and the interest you have taken in the use of our
paper. I will send a sample book to each
of the persons and advise them where they can pick up our paper.
I am more than chagrined that I did not report to you the result of our
petition on the Southworth Coat of Arms. I
am enclosing herewith a newspaper clipping from the Boston Transcript under
the date of November 11, 1939,
which shows the New England Historical Society acted favorably upon our
petition.
As you know the Southworth Coat of Arms is registered in what is called
part two of the Roll of Arms published by
the Committee on Heraldry of the New England Historical and Genealogical
Society.
As the notice states, they have corrected the same in the fourth part. I am
enclosing herewith a postal card I received
in October, advising us the fourth part had been published which can be
purchased for $1.00. You will notice they
still have copies of the first, second and third parts available at a
dollar each, and if you are interested by sending in
$2.00, you can get the fourth part and also the second part, which are the
only two that we are interested in.
With Kindest regards, beg to remain
Very Sincerely yours,
MDS:DC
Melvin D. Southworth
Boston Transcript, November 11, 1939
Notes
SOUTHWORTH ARMS
Comment on Note 29986. January 27, 1938. Under the above caption this
department gave an extract from the
Introduction to the Second Roll of Arms, by the Committee on Heraldry as
printed in New England Historical and
Genealogical Register for July, 1932.
Interested members of the Southworth family could not accept three premises
therein as:
(1) That decent of Edward Southworth of Leyden, Holland from the
Samlesbury, Lancashire, Southworth "seemed
very improbable."
(2) If the coat in the embroidery (Edward's, at Plymouth, Massachusetts)
was the coat of the Lancashire family, it
was differenced to a most extraordinary extent."
(3) That the embroidery furnished strong evidence that the relationship of
American Southworths and the Lancashire
family "was very remote."
The committee on Heraldry took up the case anew and in the current
(October) Register, page 395, issued the
following:
"THE SOUTHWORTH ARMS - A CORRECTION.
In the "Introduction" to the Second Roll of the Arms of the Society's
Committee on Heraldry,
Register, Volume 86 pages 258 ff, certain statements in regard to the
Southworth arms were
made which it now seems, in the light of certain facts brought to the
attention of the committee
by members of the Southworth family, should be modified or corrected.
Today is the first day of the rest of your life ! (jste...@iquest.net) Jim