Jump to content

Scudamore family

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
House of Scudamore
Noble house
CountryEngland Kingdom of England
Kingdom of Ireland Kingdom of Ireland
United Kingdom United Kingdom
Earlier spellingsde Scudemer, Skydmore, Skidmore, Scidmore
Foundedc.1042
FounderRalph de Scudemer
TitlesViscount Scudamore
Baron Dromore
Baronetcy of Holme Lacy
Baronetcy of Ballingham
Style(s)Viscounts, Barons, Baronets, and Knights
MottoScuto Amoris Divini ('with the shield of Divine love')
Estate(s)Kentchurch Court
Holme Lacy

The Scudamore (or de Scudamore) family is an English noble family. The family settled in Herefordshire at two seats, Holme Lacy and Kentchurch Court, before lines moved to Devon, Somerset and Derbyshire. The family first gained prominence in the 15th and 16th centuries, before becoming ennobled as Viscount Scudamore and Baron Dromore in the 17th century, and were granted two baronetcies in 1620 and 1644.[1] The family married into several noble dynasties including the Cecil, Beaufort, and Howard families, and became ancestors to the Earls of Chesterfield.[2]

Early history

[edit]

A Ralph mentioned in Domesday Book as a tenant under Alfred of Marlborough may have been an ancestor of the family, though the first well-documented bearer of the surname is found in the 12th century.[3][4] The family subsequently split into two lines, with one holding manors in Upton Scudamore, Wiltshire and in Devon, with several early members who were knighted. This branch then moved firstly to the Mendip Hills in Somerset, and then to Eyam in Derbyshire through the lead mining trade.[5] A cadet branch became entrenched in Herefordshire, with many members serving as deputy lieutenants and High Sheriffs of Herefordshire, eventually becoming ennobled in the 17th century. This branch split into two, with the senior line seated at Kentchurch Court (where they still reside), and the junior at Holme Lacy.[6]

Prominent family members

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Complete baronetage". 1900.
  2. ^ . www.cracroftspeerage.co.uk Scudamore, Viscount (I, 1628 – 1716)
  3. ^ "Upton Scudamore". A History of the County of Wiltshire, Volume 8. Victoria County History. University of London. 1965. pp. 78–89. Retrieved 14 March 2023 – via British History Online.
  4. ^ https://www.woolhopeclub.org.uk/system/files/documents/han/han-57-final.pdf [bare URL PDF]
  5. ^ http://www.skidmorefamilyhistory.com/SCUDAMORE%20DESCENDANTS%20OF%20CERTAIN.pdf [bare URL PDF]
  6. ^ http://www.skidmorefamilyhistory.com/OP44%20Notes%2011th%20to%2014th%20cent.pdf [bare URL PDF]
  7. ^ Scudamore, John (c.1542-1523) of Holme Lacy, Herefordshire, History of Parliament Retrieved 24 August 2020
  8. ^ Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Simon Adams, ‘Scudamore, Mary, Lady Scudamore (c.1550–1603)'
  9. ^ Atherton, Ian. Ambition and Failure in Stuart England: The Career of John, First Viscount Scudamore, Manchester University Press, 1999. p.35
  10. ^ History of Parliament Online – Scudamore, Hon. James
  11. ^ "SCUDAMORE, James, 3rd Visct. Scudamore of Sligo [I] (1684–1716), of Holme Lacy, Herefs". History of Parliament Online (1690–1715).
  12. ^ Angus McLaren, "Impotence: a cultural history", University of Chicago Press, 2007.
  13. ^ Urban, Sylvanus. THE GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE: AND HISTORICAL CHRONICLE. VOL. LXXXV. p. 631.