Weston 1632 Pedigree Controversy

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The Controversy

There has been controversy surrounding the parentage of Cecilia Neville, wife of John Weston, and said to be the daughter of Ralph Neville (d.v.p. 1499) and a sister of Ralph Neville, 4th Earl of Westmorland. In 1633, the pedigree of Richard Weston, Lord Treasurer and future 1st Earl of Portland was certified by William Segar the Garter King of Arms and included a descent from the Earls of Westmorland. In 1878, Robert E.C. Waters in his Genealogical Memoirs of the Extinct Family of Chester of Chicheley called this pedigree an elaborate fabrication.^[1] Despite no evidence to support this claim, it has been generally accepted that the Segar's Weston Pedigree was false.

Shawn and Lois Potter presented a great deal of information in support of the veracity of the Weston pedigree on the soc.genealogy.medieval discussion group in 2011.^[2] Readers responded with arguments both for and against their conclusions, paused for two years, and resumed the discussion in 2014, without consensus.^[3][4][5] Most recently, Shawn and Lois Potter published their research in a new book entitled Weston Pedigree Reconsidered: A Review of Documentation Provided by the College of Arms.^[6]

Evidence

In support of the claim that John Weston married Cecilia Neville, sister of the Earl of Westmorland:

1. An elaborate pedigree drawn up by the College of Arms in 1633 on behalf of Richard Weston, 1st Earl of Portland shows his great grandmother to be Cecilia Neville, sister of Ralph, 4th earl of Westmorland. It was researched by Henry Lilly, then Rouge Croix Pursuivant, certified by Sir William Segar, Garter King of Arms and engrossed on vellum, extant in the British Museum Additional MS. 18667. The pedigree is described as 205 pages on 110 feet of vellum containing copies of the charters and other documents of the Weston family, 33 hand colored seals, 4 pages of depictions of funerary monuments, etc. The ancient family of Weston, was then represented by Robert Weston, lord chancellor of Ireland, who is said to have been brother of Portland's grandfather, Richard Weston (d. 1572), justice of the common pleas. It should be noted that among the duties of the Garter King of Arms is to prepare a genealogy of any new peer and present it to the House of Lords.^[7] So, Segar was not hired by Richard Weston to create this document but rather it was for the House of Lords and part of his duties.
2. A copy of a charter from 1526 states Cecilia, wife of John Weston, is the sister of the earl of Westmorland. The original of this charter is missing but was reproduced in the 1633 pedigree.
3. A letter by Simon Weston of Lichfield, written in 1631, corroborates the pedigree. He states unequivocally that he is the grandson of John Weston of Lichfield and Cecilia Neville, daughter of Ralph Neville and sister of Ralph Neville, earl of Westmorland. The presence of the same witnesses on both Sir Simon Weston's 1631 letter and in his 1637 will provides strong evidence that Sir Simon's letter is authentic and not some sort of fabrication by the heralds.
4. The funeral certificate of Sir James Weston, Baron of the Exchequer (d. 1633) was recorded at the College of Arms as required by the 1568 order of the Earl Marshall.^[8] The certificate was drawn from the testimony of his son-in-law Nicholas Bacon of Gillingham and recorded by Henry Chitting, Chester Herald of Arms. The College of Arms has two copies of this funeral certifcate which have been examined by Adam Tuck, current Rouge Dragon Pursuivant, one a draft copy and one a final version.^[9] The originals are found with the other funeral certificates in the archives of the College of Arms. This funeral certificate was then copied into the Weston Pedigree.^[10][11] Part of Nicholas Bacon's testimony was that "Iames Lichefeild in the county of Staff: gent' [was the] fourth sonne of Ione Weston by Cecilie his wife daughter of Rafe Neuile Lo: Neuile and sister of Rafe E of Westmerland." This is another direct statement as to the parentage of Cecilia Neville. It is found in the 1633 pedigree so it is not completely independent evidence if you are alleging forgery. However, the originals attest that the pedigree copy was not an attempt to create evidence just for the pedigree, and it would greatly widen then number of people apparently being part of the conspiracy to fabricate the Weston Pedigree.

Supporting Evidence

1. Display of Arms: The primary claim made by Waters was that the 1633 Weston Pedigree was fabricated and that Judge Richard Weston of Roxwell was not a son of John Weston of Lichfield. This is contradicted by the use of coats of arms by this family. John Weston of Lichfield used a seal of Ermine, a martlet gules, on a chief 5 bezants. The tomb of Judge Richard Weston of Roxwell displayed the same arms. The same arms are found being used by Robert Weston, Lord Chancellor of Ireland, Dr. John Weston, Canon of Christ Church, and Catherine (Weston) Dyott. This Ermine, a chief 5 bezants can be found being used by Weston families across England, however, the charge of a martlet gules is only found with descendants of John Weston of Lichfield and clearly shows that Judge Richard Weston of Roxwell was his son as shown in the 1633 Weston Pedigree.
   
   The second issue raised concerns evidence that Cecilia was a daughter of Ralph Neville. A Weston monument in St. Mary's Church in Litchfield memorializes James Weston esq., his son Sir Simon Weston, and his daughter Elizabeth (Weston) Ridgway wife of Robert Ridgway, 2nd Earl of Londonderry. The monument includes a shield of Weston quartering Neville.^[12] This would be a very public declaration that John Weston married someone of the house of Neville. The arms of Dr. John Weston of Christ Church were Ermine, a martlet gules, on a chief 5 bezants.^[13] Robert Weston, Lord Chancellor of Ireland bore the same arms on his monument.^[14]
2. Advowson of Bucknell: Soon after dissolution of Oseney Abbey in 1639, Judge Richard Weston acquired the advowson of Bucknell, co. Oxford from King Henry VIII.^[15] In 1672, Richard Weston willed the advowson of Bucknell to his son Jerome Weston.^[16] Two years later, Jerome Weston gave the Bucknell advowson to his aunt Alice Ball of Lichfield for "diverse reasons and considerations especially moving to me."^[17] The wording of the deed reveals that it was a gift without payment. In 1578, Alice Ball gave the advowson to her son Robert Ball. This is more evidence confirming the relationship between the Westons of Roxwell and the Westons of Lichfield. If they were completely unrelated families as suggested by Morant and Waters, what are the chances that Jerome Weston would have given the advowson to Alice Ball of Lichfield?
3. Advowson of Sawley: In 1447, William Booth, Bishop of Lichfield granted the advowson of Sawley to his brother Roger Booth, Esq. of Sawley. This Roger Booth was the father of Isabel Booth, mother of Ralph Neville, Lord Neville (Cecilia's father). In the 1573 will of Chancellor Weston, he was in possession of the advowson of Sawley. While it is not known exactly how Weston came to possess the Sawley advowson, it does suggest a connection between him and the Neville/Booth family.^[18] It would be an unreasonable and remarkable coincidence if the Segar pedigree was false, and it just so happened that Sawley in Derbyshire which was once held by the Booths was then later held by the Westons of Lichfield, Staffordshire.
4. Lease of St. John: John Weston (who married Cecilia) obtained a lease on the Hospital of St. John in Lichfield, and three generations of Westons lived in the manor house there. The Hospital of St. John was owned by Edward Stafford, 3rd Duke of Buckingham and then by his son Henry Stafford, 1st Baron Stafford. Edward Stafford was the guardian of Cecilia's brother Ralph Neville, 4th Earl of Westmorland, and married his daughter Katherine to him. This lease of a very valuable property from the Duke of Buckingham is another connection to the Neville family, and is consistent with the statement that John Weston married a sister of the Earl of Westmorland.^[19]
5. Scope of conspiracy: The number of people who would have been complicit in forging the pedigree is unreasonably large. This is not a simple case of a herald accepting a few shillings to allow a family to keep their coat of arms. The people involved would have lived in different counties and even different countries, were only distantly related or unrelated to the Earl of Portland, and many would have nothing to gain. People who would have had to of been involved in creating a forged pedigree include:
   • William Segar, Garter King of Arms who created and certified the 1633 pedigree.
   • Henry Lilly, then Rouge Croix who researched the 1633 pedigree.
   • Richard Weston, 1st Earl of Portland for who the pedigree was drawn up.
   • Sir Simon Weston of Lichfield
   • Sir James Weston, Baron of the Exchequer
   • Edward Mytton of Weston-under-Lizard, brother-in-law to Simon and James who received one of the six copies of the pedigree made by the College of Arms.
   • Sir Richard Weston of Rugeley, whose namesake grandfather was the first cousin, once removed of Judge Richard.
   • Nicholas Bacon of Gillingham who directly stated Cecilia's parentage to the College of Arms, son-in-law of James.
   • Henry Chitting, Chester Herald who certified the statement by Nicholas Bacon.
   • Michael Hickins, Richard Clarke, and Simon Martin who witnessed both the 1631 letter by Simon Weston, and also the 1637 will of Simon Weston (a document completely separate from the pedigree).
6. Social Status: An argument against the identification is that a sister of the earl of Westmorland would not have married someone of the gentry class like John Weston. This can be turned around by pointing out that the Weston family soared to new heights following the marriage. Within four generations are found Richard Weston, 1st Earl of Portland and Lord Treasurer of England, Sir James Weston, Baron of the Exchequer, Richard Boyle, 1st Earl of Cork and Lord High Treasurer of Ireland, Richard Boyle, 2nd Earl of Cork, 1st Earl of Burlington, and Lord High Treasurer of Ireland, Roger Boyle, 1st Earl of Orrey, Robert Weston, Lord Chancellor of Ireland, Sir Geoffrey Fenton, Chief Secretary of Ireland, Weston Ridgway, 3rd Earl of Londonderry, Richard Weston, Justice of the Common Pleas, Jerome Weston, knt., Simon Weston knt., and John Weston, Doctor of Civil Law.
7. Crime of Forgery: The allegation is that William Segar, Garter forged a pedigree on behalf of Richard Weston, then Lord Treasurer of England prior to him being made an earl. But what was the benefit, and what was the risk? There was no real benefit to Richard Weston. As the Lord Treasurer he was already one of the most powerful men in the country (said to be loved by and the closest advisor of King Charles). In fact, if he had been caught forging this pedigree it would only have been ammunition for his many enemies and potentially politically ruinous. In this time period, forging pedigrees and falsely displaying arms was considered a serious crime. In 1547, the Earl of Surrey was executed for displaying the arms of Edward the Confessor and the arms of England.^[20] William Segar himself had been falsely imprisoned when a "diabolical scheme" falsely implicated him in the production of a false pedigree.^[21]
8. Sampson Erdeswick: Staffordshire historian Sampson Erdeswick (c. 1525 - 1603) was a ward of Sir John Giffard of Chillington in the mid 1530s. The heading of the 1526 deed from John Weston of Rugeley to "John Weston, Junior, my son, and Cecily, his wife, sister of Ralph, Earl of Westmorland," states that it was found at Chillington; and Sir John Giffard is named in the deed. Sampson Erdeswick apparently endorsed the identity of John Weston of Lichfield's wife as Cecily, daughter of Ralph Neville, Lord Neville, in the Weston pedigree, since he included the Weston pedigree in his Survey of Staffordshire.^[22]
9. Evidence of Family Relationships: A key component that of Water's arguments that Richard Weston, 1st Earl of Portland descended from William Weston of Prested Hall in Essex, and not from John Weston of Lichfield was that he could find no evidence that James Weston and Robert Weston, Lord Chancellor were brothers of Portland's grandfather, Justice Richard Weston (d. 1572), of Rugeley. However, there is evidence of family relationships.
   • In 1625, long before the college of arms began researching the Weston lineage and in a completely unrelated context Richard Weston referred to Simon Weston of Lichfield as "his uncle." The implication is the future Earl of Portland then knew his grandfather Richard to be the brother of Simon's father James Weston.^[23][24]
   • In the 1630's Thomas Wentworth earl of Stafford was in an extraordinary feud with Richard Boyle earl of Cork. Richard Boyle had built in St. Patrick's cathedral the "largest and grandest tomb in Ireland at a personal cost of £1000" to house the bodies of his mother-in-law Alice Weston and her father Robert Weston the Lord Chancellor of Ireland. Wentworth was demanding (purely out of spite) that it be torn down. Among the many letters regarding this issue was a mention that the Lord Treasurer would side with those wishing for the monument to remain "because of his kinsman the Lord Chancellor Weston, " and that he was "stirring in the matter" at court.[4,5,6,]^[25][26][27] In other words, he did not want the tomb of his great-uncle torn down. The Earl of Portland, Archbishop Laud and Viscount Wentworth all knew Robert Weston, Lord Chancellor of Ireland to be a kinsman of Portland (brother to Portland's grandfather Richard).
   • Richard Weston of Rugeley, Baron of the Exchequer began his political career as a burguess for Lichfield, "a seat he almost certainly owed to his distant kinsman Sir Simon Weston" of Lichfield.^[28] Again this shows a probable family relationship of the Westons of Rugeley and the Westons of Lichfield.
   • In 1603, Richard Weston of Rugeley, Baron of the Exchequer wrote a letter to Richard Boyle Earl of Cork calling him his "loving kinsman" and "worthy cousin," and his wife as "my Lady Cosyn your wyf." The letter also refers to my "brother and sister Welles."^[29] Again this shows a family connection between the Westons of Rugeley and the Westons of Lichfield contrary to the statements by Waters.

Allegations of Fraud

While not really a challenge to the 1633 pedigree, Philip Morant in 1748 in his History of Essex made Judge Richard Weston a son of John Weston and a grandson of William Weston of Prested Hall in Essex.^[30] This Richard Weston was the father of Jerome Weston and grandfather of Richard Weston, 1st earl of Portland for whom the 1633 Segar pedigree was created. This, of course, contradicts the 1633 Segar pedigree which states that Judge Richard Weston was a son of John Weston and Cecilia Neville. There is nothing to suggest that Morant was aware of the 1633 pedigree.

In 1878, Robert E.C. Waters stated there were two conflicting stories for the origins of the Westons of Roxwell, but that one came from a 1633 pedigree fabricated for Richard Weston.^[31] Despite no evidence to support this claim, it has been generally accepted that the Segar pedigree was false. Waters reasoning for presuming the 1633 pedigree to be false were:

1. The pedigree claims the Westons of Roxwell descended from Reginald de Baliol, the doomsday lord of Weston-under-lizard in Staffordshire, but he could show this was clearly wrong.
2. There was no evidence that Robert Weston, Lord Chancellor of Ireland was a brother of Judge Richard Weston, as alleged by the 1633 Segar pedigree.
3. Cecily Neville, wife of John Weston, does not occur in any of the Neville wills.
4. Cecily Neville does not occur in any of the pedigrees of the Nevilles.
5. Cecily Neville's sons never allude to their illustrious connections.
6. Judge Richard Weston bore a martlet on his arms indicating he or his father was a 4th son. This matches John Weston being the 4th son of William Weston of Prested Hall.

Answers to the objections raised by Waters:

1. This is flat wrong and an error by Waters. The pedigree never makes a genealogical connection between Reginald de Baliol and the Weston family.
2. This probably the most important point, and again this is an incorrect statement Waters. Robert Weston, Lord Chancellor of Ireland was in fact a brother of Judge Richard Weston (this will be discussed further). This proved the alternative ancestry given by Morant is wrong, and that Waters was wrong to dismiss the 1633 pedigree based on Morant's alternative.
3. There are no extant wills for such a statement to be made. The will of Cecilia's grandfather, her father, her mother, her mother's second husband, her sister, and her brother do not exist.
4. That Cecilia is not named in a Neville pedigree is not surprising and of little consequence. Family members and especially daughters were often left off of Visitation pedigrees. The 1530 Visitation of the North Counties, which is likely what Water's was alluding to, also does not name Cecilia's sister Isabel who was only recently been proven to be a daughter of Ralph Neville, Lord Neville.^[32] Similarly, the Visitations of Yorkshire does not name Cecilia's sister Isabel and does not name most known siblings of the Neville family.^[33]
5. This is oblivious to the fact that John Weston of Lichfield actually used the same arms with the marlet, as did multiple children and grandchildren in multiple lines. The arms with the martlet are clearly those of John Weston of Lichfield and those of William Weston of Prested Hall.

Other Objections Raised

Social Class: An reason for skepticism that John Weston married Cecilia Neville was that he was of insufficient social class to have married a sister of the Earl of Westmorland. This is is a specious argument which understates who the Westons were and overstates the power of the Earls of Westmorland in this time period. You do not have to look further than her father Ralph Neville (d. 1498) who married Edith Sandys (no grand ancestry of note), or her grandfather the 3rd earl of Westmorland who married Isabel Booth whose greatest claim to fame was being the niece of a bishop.

The argument also over states who the Nevilles, Earls of Westmorland were in this time period of 1450-1520. Ralph Neville, 2nd Earl of Westmorland found himself an enemy of the Beauforts and his step-uncle Richard Neville, Earl of Salisbury. He was eventually forced to surrender much of his lands and his income decreased from £2600 to £400 p.a. He was called simple minded and required a guardianship to manage his affairs. Perhaps because of the above, he was a Lancastrian and so an of his enemy of the all-powerful Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick. The point is the 2nd Earl of Westmorland was an impoverished, simple-minded, marginalized earl with no power or influence in national politics. He was succeeded by his teenage nephew whose father had already been killed at Towton and attainted. The 3rd earl does the prudent thing and switches sides to become a Yorkist, supporting Edward IV and Richard III. This backfired when in 1485 when Richard III is killed, Ralph Neville was stripped of all lands granted to him by RIII, became one of only 6 peers forced to put up a bond for his good behavior, and forced to surrender his son to Henry VII. In 1498, both Cecilia's father and grandfather die. At this point, the 4th Earl of Westmorland (Cecilia's brother) is only two years old, the Earldom has been stripped of lands and income, and the marriages of the Neville children are sold off. There are no adult family members to look after their interests. That the marriage of Cecilia Neville could have been sold to the Westons is very believable.

Lichfield Families: Douglas Richardson claimed that he had identified the family of John Weston of Lichfield in a "1532-3 Census of Lichfield, Staffordshire".^[34] This John Weston had wives +Margaret and Elizabeth, and then 18 children, namely Elizabeth, Agnes, John, Joan, Edmund, Nicholas, +William, +Richard, +John, Robert, Ellen, Alice, John, Agnes, Katherine, James, Christopher, Joan. Given that the children's list includes all 7 of the names which occur in the Segar pedigree, Richardson concludes that the list must be the family group of the same John Lichfield of the Segar pedigree; and that he could not have married Cecilia Neville since his wives were named Margaret and Elizabeth.

There are many problems with this analysis. The first is that Richardson mischaracterizes what the list of names is in the first place. It is not a census of family households. Originally published as List of Families in the Archdeaconry of Stafford it is a list of over 51,000 names of people belonging to the Archdeaconry of Stafford with some 4,000 names lost due to damage.^[35] It certainly was a not a census, however, and its original purpose is still uncertain. It likely was tracking collections or donations and the names were those who deserving of some blessing or prayer in exchange for their donation. It includes the names of people both living and dead. Although the entries look to be nuclear families, i.e. parents and their children, it is clear that many include other relatives - most commonly the parents of the family head or his wife (usually appearing in pairs and usually at the end of the entry), but also grandchildren and siblings, and sometimes cousins, god-children and even servants. In about 10% of the entries these relationships are stated explicitly, but it is probable that other entries also list relatives without saying so explicitly (the list appears to have been composed by several different clerks, not all applying the same rules for inclusion or style of entry). The list shows little correspondence with other lists of inhabitants of various parishes in the Archdeaconry.

With seventeen children listed, it cannot be said that John Weston in the list is the same as the John Weston who married Cecilia Neville. It appears that more than one Weston family has been grouped together. The List is not a census and there is no way to know if John Weston even appears in the list. John Weston who does appear in the List has been called a "tanner" as he is called this in a suit - there is no reason to think this tanner is the same as the John Weston who married Cecilia Neville. A + sign next to the child Richard indicates he was deceased, so this could not be Judge Richard of Skreens.

History of Parliament/ODNB: It has been pointed out that other generally trusted sources such as the History of Parliament, and the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography also contradict the Weston Pedigree. The ODNB entry for Richard Weston (d. 1572) states he was " probably a grandson of William Weston (d. 1513/14) of Essex and London, mercer."^[36] This is following Morant and Waters, without providing any additional reasoning or evidence. The article also notes that "some pedigrees make him the second son of John Weston of Lichfield , Staffordshire, who was the fourth son of John Weston of Rugeley."

HoP's biography of Richard Weston (d. 1572) calls the Segar pedigree a fabrication.^[37] However, the footnotes make clear that the article depends on Waters for this opinion and none of the other references support the charge of fabrication. It should also be pointed out that the History of Parliament articles on James Weston (d. 1589) and Robert Weston (d. 1573) state they were sons of John Weston and his wife Cecilia Neville.^[38][39]

Visitations: The Essex Visitations of 1612 do not name any brothers for Richard Weston of Skreens in Roxwell, though they do name a sister.^[40]

Records

The 1633 Weston Pedigree

An elaborate pedigree was drawn up by the College of Arms in 1633 on behalf of Richard Weston, 1st Earl of Portland.^[41] It was researched by Henry Lilly, then Rouge Croix Pursuivant, and certified by Sir William Segar, Garter King of Arms. The pedigree is described as 205 pages on 110 feet of vellum containing copies of the charters and other documents of the Weston family, 33 hand colored seals, 4 pages of depictions of funerary monuments, etc. The ancient family of Weston, was then represented by Robert Weston, lord chancellor of Ireland, who is said to have been brother of Portland's grandfather, Richard Weston (d. 1572), justice of the common pleas. It should be noted that among the duties of the Garter King of Arms is to prepare a genealogy of any new peer and present it to the House of Lords.^[42] It should be noted that Segar was not hired by Richard Weston to create this document, but rather it was for the House of Lords and part of his duties.

Six copies were made for the descendants of Hamo Weston - Richard Weston, 1st Earl of Portland; Simon Weston, knt. of Lichfield; James Weston, knt. Baron of the Exchequer; John Weston LL.D. of Christ Church University of Oxford; Edward Mitton of Weston-Under-Lizard, Staffordshire; and Richard Weston of Rugeley. Of these six, three still survive and have been examined. Two are in the British Library and one in the Staffordshire Record Office.

1526 Charter of John Weston of Rugeley the elder to son John Weston the younger

The full text of the 1526 charter (BM Add MS 18667, fol. 101), translated, reads as follows:

[fo. 101 recto]

Original at Chillington

[55] Know all men, present and future, that I, John Weston of Rugeley the elder, gent., have given, granted and in this my present charter have confirmed to John Giffard, knt., John Knightley, esq., and John Wolsley, gent., all my messuage in Lichfield, with all my lands and tenements, meadows, grazings and pastures, rents, reversions and services with all and singular their appurtenances belonging to the aforementioned messuage, and also the whole of my meadow called Hams in Linhurst, to have and to hold the messuage and meadow aforesaid and other premises with their appurtenances to the aforementioned John Gifford, John Kniteley and John [60] Wolseley, their heirs and assigns, to the use of John Weston the younger, [61] my son, and Cecily his wife, sister of Ralph, Earl of Westmorland, and their heirs and assigns forever, to hold from the Chief Lord of that fee by the service therefrom due and lawfully customary. And I the aforesaid John Weston and my heirs will warrant and forever defend the messuage and meadow aforesaid and other premises with their appurtenances to to the aforementioned John Giffard, John Knightley, John Wolsley, their heirs and assigns, to the aforesaid use against all men. Know further that I the aforementioned John Weston have appointed and put in my place my beloveds in Christ Roger Trusell and Alan Orel my true and lawful attorneys to deliver for me and in my name to the aforementioned John Giffard, John, and John Wolsley full and peaceful seisin of and in the messuage and meadow aforesaid and other premises with their appurtenances according to the force, form and effect of this my present Charter holding and to hold [fo. 101 verso] as ratified and pleasing all and anything my attorneys or either of them shall do in my name in delivery of the aforesaid seisin exactly as if I myself were there personally. In witness whereof I have affixed my seal to this my present Charter of enfeoffment. Dated at Lichfield, the fifteenth day of July in the eighteenth year of the reign of king Henry the eighth. [15 July 1526]

(Note: the numbers in square brackets appear in the left margin opposite individuals named in the text and are ID numbers - in the pedigree each individual is assigned a unique identifying number.)^[43]

1631 Letter from Simon Weston to Richard Weston

“(From Sir Simon Weston Knt) To my rt wort. cozen Richard Weston Esq at his home in Ridgley Cosen Weston to satisfie your desire in answer of your lter for the pefecting of our pedigree which I know cannot be done without sight of your ansient residence remaining with you at Ridgley where you may find the names of all our anncestours and especially of my grandsire [great-grandfather] who was your anncestour and of my grandfather John Weston who whilest he lived in England lived in the Citty of Lichfield and had to wife Cecely the daughter of Ralph Neville that died in the life time of the Erle of Westmorland his father who had five [sons] by the said Cicely Edmund Weston his oldest soune Richard Weston the Judge his second soune and grandfather to the now Lord Treasurer Robert Weston Chancellor of Ireland his third soun James Weston of the place where I now live in the City of Lichfield his fourth soune Christopher Weston his fifth son; James Weston my father ...”^[44]

1632 Letter of Doctor John Weston to Sir Richard Weston

As copied into the 1633 Weston Pedigree.^{[45][46][47][48]}

From John Weston, Doctor of Civil Law. Son of Robert Weston, Lord Chancellor of Ireland.

To Sir Richard Weston of Rugeley, Baron of the Exchequer

These followinge lines was sent from Doctor Weston

vnder his hand and Seale to Mr. Ri~ Weston of

Rudgeley in Com~: Stafford Esquire:

Touchinge my Grandfather his name was Iohn Weston he liued in Lichfeild, and was about 80 yeares old and blind when he died; He gaue me as I was tould the lease of St. Iones in Lichfeild which since my Father renewed; The very Seale wherewith I Seale this Letter I was told was my Grandfathers: he had many Children sones and daughters

1: The eldest I thinke was Edmund Weston he liued aboute Chichestre a Channcellor or some other Officer of Worship there. He hath Grandchildren yet liuing Masles lineally descended of his body, one of them was aliue some 3 or 4 yeares since, and hath land in Essex about Ingerstone, of whom you may inquire more of that line.

2: Richard Weston who was Iudge, was also one of my Grandfather sones, which Iudge was Grandfather to my Lord Tresurer that now is [vizt:] his Fathers Father of whom, and of Sr. Beniamin Touchborne you may haue full aduertisement of that line.

3: Another Robert Weston who died Lord Chauncellour in Ireland. Wiues he had two. The First ws a Ienings such was her Fathers name, by whom he had 3: daughters and one Sonne.

1: Elizabeth Weston the eldest who died in Ireland and neuer maried.

2: Alice Weston first maried to the Bishop of Merh~ in Ireland his Name was Brady by whom she had sones and daughters; Luke Bradi deceased, and Nicholas yet liuinge, in Ireland and Knighted as I thinke. Her second Husband was Sr. Geffrey Fenton Kt. Secretary of the Counsell in Ireland, by whom she had issue William Fenton Kt. yet liueing in Ireland, and Katherine maried to Rich:~ Boyle Earle of Corke, who hath many sonnes and daughters concering whome my Lord Goring or my Lord Digby can giue you more perfect aduertisement.

3: The third daughter Audrey Weston maried to Gideon Ansham Kt. yet liuinge in Heston neere Hownflowe of whom you may haue better instructions in that lineage.

The said Robert Westons son is called Iohn Weston Dr. of the Ciuill Law, and Prebendary of Christ Church yet liuinge, his wife Anne Freeman by whom he had:

1: Iohn Weston Mr. of Arts of ye Vniuersity of Oxon.~

2: Anne Weston maried to William Piers Dr. of Diuinity and Deane of Peterborough.

3: Elizabeth maried to Thomas Iles Dr. of Kiuinitie of ye Vniuersitie of Oxon:~

4: Dorothy Weston yet liuinge vnmaried.

The said Robert Weston had a second wife, a widdowe her name ws Ansham, Inquire further if you haue occasion of the Children he had by the second wife of Mr. Gedeon Ansham dwellinge at Heston aforesaid.

4: Another son he had named Iames Weston Register of the Diocesse of Lichfield and Couenty. whose sonne and heire Sr. Simon Weston is, of whome, or Mr Iames Weston of the Inner Temple you may further inquire.

5: Another sonne Christopher Weston, who had sonnes and daughters who dwelt about Tamworth in Staffordshire.

1: The Said Ioh~ Weston my Grandfather had daughters also, Alice Weston maried to Mr. Ball of Lichfeild by whom she had sonnes and daughters Iohn Ball who died in Ireland a Ciuill lawyer, Robert Ball a Diuine who died in Gloucestr~. about Sauerne side, Henry Ball Dr. of Diuinity deceased also. Alice Ball maried to one Mr Bardd, Ione Ball maried to one Temple in Lichfeild.

2: An other daughtr Katherine Weston maried to Mr. Diett of Lichfeild, of whom she had sonnes and daughtrs.

Anthony Diott Councellour at Lawe of the Inner Temple deceased of whose sone who now is of the Temple also you may inquire at large of his generation wherein I shall come short.

Iohn Diot of Lichfeild deceased.

Arthur Diot of Lichfeild deceased.

Ione Diot maried to Mr. Cressy, who had a daughter maried to Sr. Iohn Curson yet liuing near to Oxon.~ The said Lady Curson had a former husband a Marchant in London, but I knowe not his Name.

Yor assured loueinge cozen

John Weston

[seal]

In Dorso:

To the right worth~ Mr.

Richard Weston Councellour

at lawe of the Inner Temple

these:

London

James Weston Funeral Certificate

The funeral certificate of Sir James Weston, Baron of the Exchequer (d. 1633) was recorded at the College of Arms as required by the 1568 order of the Earl Marshall.^[49] The College of Arms has two copies of this funeral certificate which have been examined by Adam Tuck, current Rouge Dragon Pursuivant, one a draft copy and one a final version. A copy of this funeral certificate was placed in the Weston Pedigree.

Transcription of the two originals found in the College of Arms archives.^[9] The two copies are essentially identical with a couple of very minor spelling differences. The College of Arms transcription:

Sir James Weston Knight one of ye¹ Barons of the excheq[ue]r and youngest sonne of James Weston of Lichfeild [sic] in the county of Staff[ord] Gentleman 4th sonne of John Weston by Ciceley² his wife Da[ughter] of Raph³ Nevill⁴ Lo[rd] Nevill and sister of Raph Earle of Westmerland [sic] died in London ye 5th day of December 1633 and his body was conveyed to Castle Camps where it lies interred, he mar[ried] Mary Da[ughter] of James Weston of Itam⁵ in ye county of Kent Esq[uire] and by her had yssue only one Da[ughter] & heire called Anne mar[ried] to Nicholas Bacon of Gillingham in ye county of Norf[olk] Esq[uire] 5th sonne of Sir Nicholas Bacon of Redegrave Knight and prime Baronett of Engl[and] by whom she had yssue Anne sole Da[ughter] of ye age of about 13 yeares whose mother aforesaid Anne died ye [blank space] daye of September 1621 and lyes buried at Castle Camps aforesaid by her said father Sir James ye Defunct who made ye said Nicholas Bacon his sole Executor of his last will & Testament who in Testymony [that⁶] this Certificate is true hath subscribed it with his hand being taken ye 23th [sic] day of January 1633 by Henry Chitting Chester Herauld to be recorded in ye Office of Armes.

[signed] Nich[olas] Bacon⁷

Copy as it appears in the Segar Pedigree:^[50][51]

Out of the Booke of Certificates in the Office of Armes

Sr Iames Weston Knight one of the Barons of the excheq, and youngest sone of Iames Weston of Lichefeild in the county of Staff: gent' fourth sonne of Iohn Weston by Cecilie his wife daughter of Rafe Neuile Lo: Neuile, and sister of Rafe E of Westmerland. died in Londo~ the fifth day of December 1633, and his body was conuayed to Castle Camps where it lyes interred

He maried Mary daughter of Iames Weston of Itam in ye County of Kent~ Esq. and by her had yssue onely one daughter and heire called Anne maried to Nicholas Bacon of Gillingham in ye County of Norff: Esq. fift son~e of Sr Nich~as Bacon of Redgaue Kt & prime Baronet of Engl~ by whome she had yssue Anne sole daughter now of the age of about thirteene yeares whose mother aforesaid Anne died the day of September 1621 and lyes buried at Castle Camps aforesaide by her saide father Sr James the defunct who made the saide Nich~as Bacon his sole Executor of his last will, & Testament who in testimony that this certificate is true hath subscribed it with his hand being taken the 23th day of January 1633 by Henr Chitting Chester herald to be recorded in the Office of Armes.

Nich: Bacon

Family Connections Chart

Chart showing many of the prominent descendants of John and Cecilia Weston in the first few generations, and the connection between the Westons of Lichfield, Roxwell and Rugeley.

Westons of Lichfield, Roxwell and Rugeley.

Miscellaneous Notes

• Plausibility of fabrication: The very contention that Segar's Weston pedigree was fabricated is itself strange.
  What exactly is the allegation, because there are two separate assertions here? The first, being argued here, is that Cecilia is an invention to create a connection to the Earls of Westmorland. Note that not even Waters ever made this claim. The second claim, made by Waters, is that Richard Weston, Earl of Portland’s grandfather Richard was falsely made to be a son of John Weston and Cecilia Neville. Well that would be an irrational way to fabricate a pedigree. First, you invent a nonexistent person, then you invent a nonexistent relationship to connect to the nonexistent person - that doesn’t make sense. Fabricated pedigrees attach a known person in a pedigree to a real person. In other words, if Segar wanted to fabricate the Weston pedigree he would have connected Richard Weston to Cecilia because she was a known/real daughter of Ralph, Lord Neville.

• Two Cecilia Westons: Two John Westons married a woman named Cecilia and this has at times caused some confusion. The first, of course, is John Weston of Lichfield who married Cecilia Neville, the subject of this page. The second is his nephew John Weston of Rugeley who married Cecilia Ford.

Notes on arms used

There are two different coats of arms associated with the Westons. This has led to some confusion as to the relationships between the different branches of the family, and charges that various branches are unrelated to each other. The first is the ancient arms of the family which can be traced back to the 12th century:

Or, an eagle displayed regardant sable

The second is most commonly associated with the Westons of Lichfield, but can also be found being used by other Weston branches:

Ermine, on a chief azure five bezants

So who used what and what does it tell us about their relationships.

Weston of Lichfield Ermine, a martlet gules, on a chief azure 5 bezants.

- John Weston of Lichfield used a seal with

Ermine, a martlet, on a chief 5 bezants.^[52]

- This seal and arms descended to his grandson Dr. John Weston, Canon of Christ Church.

Ermine, a martlet gules, on a chief azure 5 bezants.^[53][54]

- Granddaughter Joan Dyott, daughter of Catherine (Weston) Dyott, displayed on her tomb:

Ermine, a martlet gules, on a chief azure 5 bezants.^[55]

- Robert Weston, Lord Chancellor of Ireland bore the same arms on his monument.

Ermine, a martlet gules, on a chief azure 5 bezants.^[56]

Weston of Roxwell Ermine, a martlet gules, charged with a mullet or, on a chief azure 5 bezants.

- Judge Richard Weston of Skreens in Roxwell, Essex on his tomb:

Ermine, a martlet gules charged with a mullet or, on a chief azure 5 bezants.^[57]

Weston of Rugeley: The ancient arms of Weston of Weston-under-Lizard, and of Rugeley were Or, an eagle displayed sable. These arms can be found going back to at least the 13th century.^[58] It was said by Waters that the arms of Weston of Lichfield were entirely different from those of Weston of Rugeley, so they cannot be the same family. However, it can be shown that Weston of Rugeley also used the Weston of Lichfield coat of arms.

Richard Weston of Rugeley (d. 1613) on his monument has: 1 and 4, Or, an eagle displayed sable; 2d Ermine, and chief azure 5 bezants; 3d Arms of Ford (his mother).^[59]

His son Ralph Weston of Rugeley (dvp 1605) on his monument has: 1 and 4, Or, an eagle displayed sable; 2d Ermine, and chief azure 5 bezants; 3d Arms of Ford.^[60]

Weston

Weston of Rugeley

Weston, Earl of Portland

https://books.google.com/books?id=zOkGAAAAYAAJ

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Weston-2732

https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015039595601&view=1up&seq=61&q1=Weston

Brief Notes on Children

• Richard Weston. Born say 1513.

Great Migration Connections

• Thomas Weston of Hagley Hall in Rugeley was a brother of Sir Richard Weston (1579–1658) Baron of the Exchequer and a son of Ralph Weston of Rugeley, Staffordshire. He was a Merchant Adventurer with interests in the Virginia and Plymouth colonies. He traveled several times between England, Virginia, and New England. His daughter married Roger Conant Jr.

Slade Question

Judge Richard Weston's will mentions "Mary Slade, John Milborne's sister". Water's said he found "certain proof" that Richard Weston's sister married John Slade of Coventry, and that this sister had two daughters, Mary Slade and Joan Slade who married John Milbourne of Marks Hall in Dunmow. Evidence is from the 1594 IPM of John Milborne which sets out his marriage settlement.^[61]

If Richard Weston really had a sister who married John Slade of Coventry, who is she? The 1633 Weston Pedigree makes clear he had two sisters, Alice who married John Ball, and Catherine who married John Dyott.

The actual wording of the marriage settlement of Joan Slade and John Milborne is that she was "consanguineam" of Judge Richard Weston. This is very broad term which implies a near relative and might mean cousin/niece/nephew/aunt/uncle/grandson/granddaughter/etc.

However, taken in conjunction with the Visitations of Essex which gives Richard Weston a sister ______ married to Slade, this would seem to confirm that Richard Weston had a sister who married John Slade. Elsewhere in the same Visitation Joan is called "by the sister of Judge Weston" and "daughter of John Slade of Coventry by the niece Judge Weston."^[62] So, which is it - is Joan (Slade) Melborne the niece of Judge Weston, or is her mother the niece of Judge Weston?

The marriage settlement of Joan Slade and John Melborne says that she was "consanguineam" of Judge Richard Weston. This is very broad term which implies a near relative and might mean cousin/niece/nephew/aunt/uncle/grandson/granddaughter/etc. In fact, it is odd the way an unknown sister only is given in the Weston pedigree in Essex Visitations with then details concerning the marriage of Joan Slade and John Melborne. It seems likely that Richard Weston having a sister Slade is not original to the Visitation but rather was added by antiquarians later. Until details regarding who this John Slade of Coventry married are found, it is uncertain how Joan Slade is related to this Weston family.

Summary

There is overwhelming evidence that John Weston married Cecilia Neville, as given in the 1633 Weston Pedigree created by the College of Arms. Most of the direct evidence does come from the pedigree itself where the relationship is detailed by multiple sworn statements, charter evidence, and other documents. It is also supported indirect evidence such as heraldry, statements of kinship.

An examination of all of the arguments made by Waters claiming the pedigree to be a forgery show that he was wrong on every point.

Conclusion

Cecilia Neville was the daughter of Ralph Neville, Baron Neville, and a sister of Ralph Neville, 4th Earl of Westmorland exactly as described in the pedigree created at the college of arms. Claims that the pedigree was fabricated are without merit.

Sources

Footnotes and citations:

1. ↑ Waters. Family of Chester of Chicheley, vol. 1. (1878): page 93-110.
2. ↑ Soc.Genealogy.Medieval Discussion Group. "New Walton Descent from Edward III," (First post by Shawn Potter on 24 November 2011). Google Groups link.
3. ↑ Soc.Genealogy.Medieval Discussion Group. "Additonal Evidence for New Walton Descent from Edward III," (First post by Shawn Potter on 6 December 2011). Google Groups link.
4. ↑ Soc.Genealogy.Medieval Discussion Group. "Weston / Walton descent from the Earls of Westmorland," (First post by Joe Cochoit on 17 February 2014). Google Groups link.
5. ↑ Soc.Genealogy.Medieval Discussion Group. "Family of John Weston, of Lichfield, Staffordshire (died c.1550)," (First post by Douglas Richardson on 14 March 2014). Google Groups link.
6. ↑ Potter. Weston Pedigree Reconsidered. (2022).
7. ↑ Noble. History of the College of Arms. (1804): page 59.
8. ↑ Renaissance: The Elizabethan World website. Elizabethan Heraldry, Earl Marshall's Orders, 1568.
9. ↑ ^{9.0 9.1} College of Arms. The Funeral Certificate of Sir James Weston, 1633. College of Arms MSS F.C.3/180 (draft copy) and College of Arms MSS I.23/72 (final copy). College of Arms, 130 Queen Victoria St., London, UK. Examined and transcribed by Adam Tuck, Rouge Dragon Pursuivant, December 2022.
10. ↑ Potter. Weston Pedigree Reconsidered. (2022): pages 108-110.
11. ↑ BL Add. 18667, folio127 verso.
12. ↑ Potter. Weston Pedigree Reconsidered. (2022): pages 87-90.
13. ↑ Gutch. History of the University of Oxford. (1786): 488-489.
14. ↑ Church Monuments Society. Church Monuments. vol. 13. (1998): page 81.
15. ↑ Blomfield. History of Ardley, Bucknell, Caversfield and Stoke Lynn. (1894): page 54.
16. ↑ Canterbury Wills, 1384-1858. (Ancestry.com online database). Will of Ricardi Westone, d. 1572.
17. ↑ Potter. Weston Pedigree Reconsidered. (2022): pages 43-44, 204. Citing, transcribing and translating the original grant.
18. ↑ Potter. Weston Pedigree Reconsidered. (2022): pages 83-84.
19. ↑ Potter. Weston Pedigree Reconsidered. (2022): pages 77-80.
20. ↑ d'Aubigné, Jean Henri Merle. Reformation in Europe in the Time of Calvin. (1879): 305-308.
21. ↑ Noble. History of the College of Arms. (1804): page 231, and pages 242-245.
22. ↑ Harwood. A Survey of Staffordshire By Sampson Erdeswicke. (1820). Google Books link.
23. ↑ Potter. Weston Pedigree Reconsidered. (2022): page 51.
24. ↑ Ruigh. The Parliament of 1624. (1971): page 319.
25. ↑ Townshend. Life and Letters of the Great Earl of Cork. (1904): page 213.
26. ↑ Bell. Archbishop Laud and Priestly Government. (1905). page 173.
27. ↑ Bliss. The Works of William Laud, vol. VI part II. (1857). pages 358-359.
28. ↑ History of Parliament Online website. Biography of WESTON, Richard (c.1578/9-1658).
29. ↑ Grosart. The Lismore Papers of Richard Boyle, series 2 part 1. (1881): pages 79-81.
30. ↑ Morant. History and Antiquities of Essex, vol. 2. (1768): page 70 and page 171.
31. ↑ Waters. Family of Chester of Chicheley, vol. 1. (1878): page 93-110.
32. ↑ Longstaffe. Visitation of the Northern Counties in 1530. (1863): page 29.
33. ↑ Norcliffe. Visitation of Yorkshire in 1563 and 1564, (1881): page 226.
34. ↑ Soc.Genealogy.Medieval Discussion Group. "Family of John Weston, of Lichfield, Staffordshire (died c.1550)," (First post by Douglas Richardson on 14 March 2014). Google Groups link.
35. ↑ Kettle. "A List of Families in the Archdeaconry of Stafford, 1532-3". (1976).
36. ↑ J. H. Baker, "Weston, Richard (d. 1572)", in Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004; online edn, Jan 2008 accessed 29 Jan 2014.
37. ↑ HoP Online website. Biography of WESTON, Richard (by 1527-72), of the Middle Temple, London and Roxwell, Essex.
38. ↑ HoP Online. Biography of WESTON, James (c.1525-89), of Lichfield, Staffs.
39. ↑ HoP Online. Biography of WESTON, Robert (by 1522-73), of Lichfield, Staffs.
40. ↑ Metcalfe. Visitations of Essex, vol. I. (1878): page 318.
41. ↑ The 1633 Weston Pedigree. There are three known surviving copies of the original six. BL Add. 74251A; BL Add. 18667; SRO 1344/1.
42. ↑ Noble. History of the College of Arms. (1804): page 59.
43. ↑ "Weston / Walton descent from the Earls of Westmorland." 1526 Charter Translated from the original Latin by Matt Tompkins. Accessed 12 October 2017.
44. ↑ Discovery: The National Archives, UK. "Nineteenth Century Copy of a Letter from Sir Simon Weston of Lichfield to Richard Weston, Esq. of Rugeley." Dated 9 December 1631, D(W)1885/4/6/1.
45. ↑ Potter. Weston Pedigree Reconsidered. (2022): pages 54-58, image of original from Add. MS 18667.
46. ↑ BL Add. MS 18667, folios 125 verso and recto.
47. ↑ BL Add. 74251A, folio 139 recto, folio 140 verso and recto.
48. ↑ SRO 1344/1, folio 128 recto, 129 verso and recto.
49. ↑ Renaissance: The Elizabethan World website. Elizabethan Heraldry, Earl Marshall's Orders, 1568.
50. ↑ Potter. Weston Pedigree Reconsidered. (2022): page 108, image of original from Add. MS 18667.
51. ↑ BL Add. MS 18667, folio 127 verso.
52. ↑ The Herald and Genealogist, vol. 8. (1874): page 508.
53. ↑ Gutch. History of the University of Oxford. (1786): pages 488-489.
54. ↑ The Herald and Genealogist, vol. 8. (1874): page 508.
55. ↑ Jones. Parish of Tettenhall. (1894): page 252.
56. ↑ Church Monuments Society. Church Monuments. vol. 13. (1998): page 81.
57. ↑ Trans. of the Essex Archaeological Society, volume 9. (1903): page 57.
58. ↑ Bridgeman. "Parish of Weston-Under-Lizard," in Collections for a History of Staffordshire, vol. 2. (1899): see for example pages 9-20, 37, 44, 315, etc.
59. ↑ Potter. Weston Pedigree Reconsidered. (2022): pages 27-28.
60. ↑ Potter. Weston Pedigree Reconsidered. (2022): pages 29.
61. ↑ Waters. Family of Chester of Chicheley, vol. 1. (1878): page 95.
62. ↑ Metcalfe. Visitations of Essex, vol. I. (1878): page 248 and page 412.

Source list:

• J. H. Baker, "Weston, Richard (d. 1572)", in Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004; online edn, Jan 2008 accessed 29 Jan 2014.

• Bell, Henry Bradley. Archbishop Laud and Priestly Government. (1905). page 173.

• Bliss, James ed. The Works of the Most Reverend Father in God, William Laud, volume VI part II. (1857). pages 358-359.

• Blomfield, James Charles. History of the Deanery of Bicester, Part VIII: History of Ardley, Bucknell, Caversfield and Stoke Lynn. (London, 1894): page 54.

• Bridgeman, Ernest. "History of the Manor and Parish of Weston-Under-Lizard, in the County of Stafford," in Collections for a History of Staffordshire, volume 2. (London: Staffordshire Record Society, 1899).

• Church Monuments Society. Church Monuments: Journal of the Church Monuments Society, volume 13. (London: International Society for the Study of Church Monuments, 1998): page 81.

• College of Arms. The Funeral Certificate of Sir James Weston, 1633. College of Arms MSS F.C.3/180 (draft copy) and College of Arms MSS I.23/72 (final copy). College of Arms, 130 Queen Victoria St., London, UK. Examined and transcribed by Adam Tuck, Rouge Dragon Pursuivant, December 2022.

• d'Aubigné, Jean Henri Merle. History of the Reformation in Europe in the Time of Calvin: Geneva and France. (New York, 1879): 305-308.

• Discovery: The National Archives, UK. "Nineteenth Century Copy of a Letter from Sir Simon Weston of Lichfield to Richard Weston, Esq. of Rugeley." Dated 9 December 1631, D(W)1885/4/6/1.

• England & Wales, Prerogative Court of Canterbury Wills, 1384-1858. PROB 11: Will Registers, 1567-1598, Piece 54: Daper (1572). (Ancestry.com online database). Will of Ricardi Westone, probate 29 Jul 1572.

• Gutch, John ed. The History and Antiquities of the Colleges and Halls in the University of Oxford: by Antony Wood, M.A. (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1786): pages 488-489.

• Grosart, Alexander ed. The Lismore Papers of Richard Boyle, First, series 2 part 1. (London, 1881): pages 79-81.

• Harwood, Rev. Thomas ed. A Survey of Staffordshire: Containing the Antiquities of that County By Sampson Erdeswicke. (Westminster, 1820). Google Books link.

• The Herald and Genealogist, volume 8. (London, 1874): page 508. "Ani Boro".

• History of Parliament Online website. Biography of WESTON, Richard (by 1527-72), of the Middle Temple, London and Roxwell, Essex., originally from S.T. Bindoff ed. The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1509-1558. (1982).

• History of Parliament Online website. Biography of WESTON, Richard (c.1578/9-1658), of Hagley manor, Rugeley, Staffs. and the Inner Temple, London, originally from Thrush, Andrew and John P. Ferris eds. The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1604-1629, (2010).

• History of Parliament Online website. Biography of WESTON, James (c.1525-89), of Lichfield, Staffs., originally from Hasler, P.W. ed. The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1558-1603, (1981).

• History of Parliament Online website. Biography of WESTON, Robert (by 1522-73), of Lichfield, Staffs., originally from S.T. Bindoff ed. The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1509-1558. (1982).

• Jones, James P. A History of the Parish of Tettenhall, in the County of Stafford. (London, 1894): page 252.

• Kettle, Ann J. ed. "A List of Families in the Archdeaconry of Stafford, 1532-3" in Collections for a History of Staffordshire, Fourth Series Volume VIII. (Stafford: Staffordshire Record Society, 1976).

• Longstaffe, W. Hylton Dyer ed. Heraldic Visitation of the Northern Counties in 1530 by Thomas Tonge: With an Appendix of Other Heraldic Documents Relating to the North of England. (London, 1863): page 29.

• Metcalfe, Walter C. ed. Visitations of Essex by Hawley, 1552; Hervey, 1558; Cooke, 1570; Raven, 1612; and Owen and Lilly, 1634. To which are added Miscellaneous Essex Pedigrees from Various Harleian Manuscripts: and an Appendix containing Berry's Essex Pedigrees, volume I. (London: Harleian Society Visitation Series volume 13, 1878): page 318.

• Morant, Philip. The History and Antiquities of the County of Essex, volume 2. (London, 1768): page 70 and page 171.

• Noble, Mark. A History of the College of Arms: And the Lives of All the Kings, Heralds, and Persuivants from the Reign of Richard III. (London, 1804): page 59, page 231], and pages 242-245..

• Norcliffe, Charles Best ed. Visitation of Yorkshire in the years 1563 and 1564, (London: Harleian Society Visitation Series, vol. 16, 1881): page 226.

• Three known extant copies (of the original 6) of Segar's 1633 Weston Pedigree:
  1. BL Add. MS 74251A. Illuminated Genealogy of the Family of Weston-under-Lizard, co. Stafford, 25 Nov 1633. BL Add. MS 74251A. The British Library Manuscript Department, Boston Spa, Wetherby, West Yorkshire, UK.
  2. BL Add. MS 18667. Weston-Cave Heraldic Pedigrees by William Segar, knt., Garter King of Arms, 25 Nov. 1633. BL Add. MS 18667. The British Library Manuscript Department, Boston Spa, Wetherby, West Yorkshire, UK.
  3. SRO 1344/1. Weston Pedigree, 25 Nov. 1633. SRO 1344/1. Staffordshire Record Office, Eastgate Street, Stafford, UK.

• Potter, Shawn and Lois Potter. Weston Pedigree Reconsidered: A Review of Documentation Provided by the College of Arm. (2022). Available at Amazon.com.

• Ruigh, Robert E. The Parliament of 1624: Politics and Foreign Policy. (Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1971): page 319.

• Soc.Genealogy.Medieval Discussion Group. "New Walton Descent from Edward III," (First post by Shawn Potter on 24 November 2011). Google Groups link.

• Soc.Genealogy.Medieval Discussion Group. "Additonal Evidence for New Walton Descent from Edward III," (First post by Shawn Potter on 6 December 2011). Google Groups link.

• Soc.Genealogy.Medieval Discussion Group. "Weston / Walton descent from the Earls of Westmorland," (First post by Joe Cochoit on 17 February 2014). Google Groups link.

• Soc.Genealogy.Medieval Discussion Group. "Family of John Weston, of Lichfield, Staffordshire (died c.1550)," (First post by Douglas Richardson on 14 March 2014). Google Groups link.

• Townshend, Dorthea. The Life and Letters of the Great Earl of Cork. (1904): page 213.

• Transactions of the Essex Archaeological Society, volume 9. (Colchester: Essex Archaeological Society, 1903): page 57. "Some Essex Brasses: Three Shields Belonging to Judge Richard Weston."

• Waters, Robert Edmond Chester. Genealogical Memoirs of the Extinct Family of Chester of Chicheley, volume 1. (London, 1878): page 93-110.