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BEAUMONT-EARL OF BEDFORD.

(See BEAUMONT, Earl of Leicester.)

BEAUMONT-BARON CRAMOND.

(See RICHARDSON, Baron Cramond.)

BEC OR BEKE-BARONS BEKE OF
ERESBY.

By Writ of Summons, dated 23 June, 1295.
Lineage.

WALTER BEC, Lord of Eresby, co. Lincoln, m. Agnes, dau. and heiress of Hugh, the son of Pinco, and had issue,

1. Hugh, who d. s. p. in his return from the Holy Land.
11. Henry, being a person of weak understanding, his two
next brothers shared with him the inheritance.

III. Walter, participators, with their brother Henry, in their
IV. John, father's lands.

Nicholas, inherited the church patronage of his father.

The eldest surviving son,

He m.

HENRY BEKE, inherited Eresby and other manors. Hawse or Alice de Multon, sister of Thomas de Multon, and was 8. by his son,

WALTER BEKE, Lord of Eresby, who m. Eva, niece of Walter de Grey, archbishop of York, and had issue,

1. JOHN, his successor in the lordship of Eresby. II. THOMAS, bishop of St. David's, d. 14 April, 1293. III. Anthony, the celebrated bishop of Durham, and patriarch of Jerusalem. "This Anthony," says Dugdale, "was signed with the cross in the 54th HENRY III., in order to his going to the Holy Land with Prince Edward; and on the 3rd of EDWARD I., being then a clerk, was made constable of the Tower of London. Moreover, in anno 1283, being present at the translation of St. William, archbishop of York, and at the whole charge of that great solemnity (the king, queen, and many of the nobility being also there), he was then consecrated bishop of Durham, by William Wickwane, archbishop of York, in the church of St. Peter, within that city. After which, anno 1.94 (22nd EDWARD I.), the king discerning his great losses in Gascoigne, he was sent to Rodolph, king of Almaine, to make a league with him; and the same year, upon the arrival of the cardinals to treat of peace between King EDWARD and the King of France, he readily answered their proposals in the French tongue. Furthermore, in anno 1296, King EDWARD entered Scotland with a powerful army; he brought thither to him no less than 500 horse and 1,000 foot, besides a multitude of Welsh and Irish. After which, the same year, being sent ambassador into that realm, he was solemnly met by the king and nobles; and after much dispute, brought them to such an accord that they totally submitted themselves to the pleasure of King EDWARD. Also, upon that rebellion, which again broke out there the next year following (at which time they used great cruelties to the English), he was again sent thither to inquire the truth, and to advertise the king thereof. And in the 26th of EDWARD I. was again sent into Scotland, with certain forces, at which time he assaulted the castle of Dulton, and took it. And lastly, in 33rd of EDWARD I., being with the Earl of Lincoln, and some other bishops, sent to Rome, to present divers vessels of pure gold from King EDWARD to the Pope, his holiness taking especial notice of his courtly behaviour and magnanimity of spirit, advanced him to the title of Patriarch of Jerusalem.'"

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Amongst other works of this great prelate," continues Dugdale, "he founded the collegiate churches of Chester and Langcester, as also the collegiate chappel at Bishops-Auckland, all in the county palatine of Durham. Moreover, it is reported that no man in all the realm, except the king, did equal him for habit, behaviour, and military pomp, and that he was more versed in state affairs than in ecclesiastical duties; ever assisting the king most powerfully in his wars; having sometimes in Scotland 26 standard-bearers, and of his ordinary retinue 140 knights; so that he was thought to be rather a temporal prince than a priest or bishop; and lastly, that he d 3 March, 1310, and was buried above the high altar in his cathedral of Durham." This prelate was the first bishop that presumed to lie in the church, on account of the interment of the holy St. Cuthbert, and so superstitious were they in those days that they dared not bring in the remains at the doors, but broke a hole in the wall, to convey them in at the end of the church, which breech is said to be still visible.

1. Margaret, m. to Galfridus de Thorpe.

II. Another dau., a nun

The eldest son,

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JOHN BEKE, 8. his father in the feudal lordship of Eresby, and was summoned to parliament as Baron Beke of Eresby, on 23 June, 20 September, and 2 November, 1295, and 26 August, 1296, having previously (4th of EDWARD I., 1275-6) had license to make a castle of his manor-house at Eresby; his lordship m. -, and had issue,

1. WALTER, who must have d. s. p. and vitâ patris, before the gift of Eresby to Robert Willoughby.

1. Alice, m. to Sir William de Willoughby, Knt., and had issue,

ROBERT WILLOUGHBY, who inherited, at the decease of his grand uncle, Anthony Beke, bishop of Durham, the great possessions of that eminent prelate, and was summoned to parliament, temp. EDWARD II., as LORD WILLOUGHBY DE ERESBY. (See that dignity in BURKE'S Peerage and Baronetage.)

II. Margaret, m. to Sir Richard de Harcourt, Knt., ancestor of the Harcourts, Earls of Harcourt.

III. Mary, d. unm.

Lord Beke gave Eresby to his grandson, Robert Willoughby, and d. 1303-4, when the Barony fell into ABEYANCE between his two daus. and co-heirs, the Ladies Willoughby and Har court, and so continues amongst their descendants. Arms.-Gules, a cross moline, arg.

BECHE-BARONS LA BECHE.

By Writ of Summons, dated 25 February, 1342.
Lineage.

Of this family, De la Beche, of Aldworth, co. Bucks, NICHOLAS DE LA BECHE was constituted constable of the Tower of London in the 9th of EDWARD III., and had a grant from the crown in two years afterwards of the manor of Whitchurch, with other lands. About this period, too, he obtained license to encastellate his houses at De La Beche, Beaumys, and Watlyington. He was subsequently distinguished in the wars in Brittany, and was summoned to Parliament as a baron on 25 February, 1342. In 1343 his lordship became seneschal of Gascony, and the next year was constituted one of the commissioners to treat with ALPHONSUS, king of Castile, touching a marriage between the eldest son of that monarch and Joane, dau. of the king of England.

Lord de la Beche d. in 1347, and leaving no issue, the Barony EXPIRED, but the estates passed to the sisters of John de la Beche, who d. nineteen years previously, and is supposed to have been the elder brother of the baron; consequently the co-heiresses were his lordship's sisters likewise. Of those ladies, the elder, JOAN, m. 1st, Sir Andrew Sackville, and 2ndly, Sir Thomas Langford; and the younger m. Robert Danvers. Arms.-Vairée arg. and gules.

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Lineage.

This eminent Norman family deduced an uninterrupted descent from

BELASIUS, one of the commanders in the army of be Conqueror, distinguished for having suppressed the adherents of Edgar Ethling, in the Isle of Ely, whence the spot where he had pitched his camp was named Belasius Hill, now known by the corrupted designation of Belsar's Hill. The son of this gallant soldier,

ROWLAND, marrying Elgiva, dau. and heiress of Ralph de Belasyse, of Belasyse, co. Durham, assumed, upon succeeding to the inheritance of his wife, the surname of "Belasyse, of Belasyse," and his descendants ever afterwards adhered to the same designation, although the spelling has frequently varied. The great-grandson of this Rowland Belasyse,

SIR ROWLAND BELASYSE attained the honour of knighthood by his gallant bearing at the battle of Lewes, in the 48th of HENRY III. Sir Rowland m. Mary, dau. and heiress of Sir

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1. Elizabeth, m. 1st, to Thomas Bingham, Esq., and 2ndly, to Sir John Cranlington, Knt.

II. Julian, m. 1st, to John Fishburn, of Fishburn, in the bishopric of Durham, and 2ndly, to Sir John Waddon. Knt. ROBERT BELASYSE, m. Alice, dau. of Robert Lamplugh, of Lamplugh, in Cumberland, and by her had four sons, JOHN, WILLIAM, ROBERT, and GEOFFREY.

JOHN BELASYSE, m. Jonetta, dau. of Thomas Tipping, Esq., and d. 18th HENRY VII., leaving a dau, Alice. His brother, WILLIAM BELASYSE, Esq., of Belasyse, who m. 1st, Cecily, dan. and heiress of William Hotton, Esq., and had a son, THOMAS BELASYSE, m. Margery, dau. of Richard Dalton, Esq., and by her had two daus., who both d. young.

He m. 2ndly, Margaret, dau. of Sir Lancelot Thirkeld, of Malmerby, in Yorshire, Knt., and had issue,

RICHARD, his successor.

Anthony, LL.D., master in Chancery in 1545, when he was one of the four especially appointed to hear causes and pass decrees in the Court of Chancery, in the absence of the lord chancellor, Sir Thomas Wriothesley. And in the reign of EDWARD VI., being written Anthony Belasis, Esq., was one of the king's council in the north. On the dissolution of the monastries he obtained from the crown a grant of Newburgh Abbey, co. York, which he afterwards gave to his nephew, Sir William Belasyse.

Elizabeth, m. to William Clervaux, of Crofts, co. York.
Anne, m. to Anthony Smith, Esq., of Kalton.

RICHARD BELASYSE, Esq., LL.D., the son and heir, was constituted constable of Durham for life, to officiate in person, or by deputy. He m. Margery, eldest dau. and heiress of Richard Errington, Esq., of Cockley, in Northumberland, and dying 26 March, 1540, left issue,

William, who d. an infant; WILLIAM, his heir; Anthony Francis, Thomas, Anthony, Richard, who all d. unm.; Cecilia; Anne; Margaret, in. to Wm. Pulleyne, Esq., of Scotton, co. York; and Jane, m. John, son and heir of Sir Ralph Hedworth, of Harraton, in Durham,

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and co-heir of William Lee, Esq., of Brandon, a son and heir,

SIR WILLIAM BELASYSE, Knt., of Morton House, m. Margaret, eldest dau. and co-heir of Sir George Selby, Knt., and has issue,

1. Richard (Sir), of Ludworth, father of General Sir Henry Belasyse, of Brancepeth Castle, co. Durham, and of other issue, all of whom are now EXTINCT.

II. WILLIAM.

The 2nd son,

WILLIAM BELASYSE, of Morton House, b. 30 December, 1617, m. Martha, dau. of Sir Henry Curwen, of Workington, co. Cumberland, and by her (who d. 1665) had issue,

1. William, d. s. p., between the years 1678 and 1682. II. RICHARD, of whom presently.

The 2nd son,

THE REV. RICHARD BELASYSE, rector of Haughton-le-Skerne, co. Durham, m. Margaret, dau. of Lodowick Hall, Esq., of Great Chilton, co. Durham, and by her (who d. 1728), had issue,

1. THOMAS, of whom presently.

II. William, m. Jane, dau. of Seth Loftus, of Wickall, co. York, left a son Charles, who was living, under age, 1738

1. A dau., d. in childhood.

The Rev. Richard Belasyse d. 1 November, 1721. His elder son, THOMAS BELASYSE, Esq., of Haughton-le-Skerne, m. Alice, dau. of Robert Hilton, and widow, 1st, of Christopher Blacket, Esq., of Newham; 2ndly, of Francis Smart, Esq., and by her (who d. November, 1761), had a sole child and heiress,

Martha-Maria Belasyse, b. 8 March, 1721, who m. January, 1740-1, at Cleasby, co. York, Richard Bowes, Esq., of Darlington, descended from Bowes, of Boythorp and Bugthorpe, co. York, and d. July 1767, leaving a son,

Thomas Bowes, Esq., of Darlington, bapt. 15 Aug. 1753, m. 8 February, 1776, Dorothy, dau. of - Stephenson, Esq., of Huntingdon, and d. April, 1806, leaving a

scn,

THOMAS BOWES, Esq., of Darlington, bapt. 23 February, 1777; m. 31 December, 1807, Elizabeth, dau. of David Crawford, Esq., of Howledge Hall, co. Durham, and d. 3 October, 1846, leaving issue,

1. THOMAS, of Darlington, co. Durham, b. 1813.

II. Richard, m. Hester, dau. of Mons. Le Forestier, of Havre de Grâce, France.

III. George.

1. Dorothy.

11. Catherine.

III. Elizabeth, m. to John Hull Fell, Esq., of Belmont, Uxbridge.

Sir William d. at an advanced age, 13 April, 1604, and was 8. by his eldest son,

SIR HENRY BELASYSE, of Newborough, co. York, who, having received the honour of knighthood from King JAMES I., at York, in his majesty's journey to London, 17 April, 1603, was created a BARONET upon the institution of that dignity, 29 June, 1611. Sir Henry m. Ursula, dau. of Sir Thomas Fairfax, of Denton, co. York, and had issue,

THOMAS, his successor.

Dorothy, m. to Sir Conyers Darcy, Knt. of Hornby.
Mary, m. to Sir William Lister, Knt., of Thornton, co.
York.

He was s. at his decease by his son,

SIR THOMAS BELASYSE, 2nd baronet, b. 1557, and advanced to the peerage by the title of BARON FAUCONBERG, of Yarm, co. York, 25 May, 1627. His lordship, adhering faithfully to the fortunes of King CHARLES I., was created, 31 January, 1643, VISCOUNT FAUCONBERG, of Henknowle, co. palatine of Durham. His lordship was subsequently at the siege of York, and at the battle of Marston Moor, under the Duke of Newcastle, with whom he fled to the continent after that unfortunate defeat. He m. Barbara, dau. of Sir Henry Cholmondeley, Bart., of Roxby, co. York, and had issue,

HENRY, M.P. for co. York; of whom Clarendon writes:"Harry Belasis, with the Lord Fairfax, the two knights who served in parliament for Yorkshire, signed articles for a neutrality for that county, being nearly allied together, and of great kindness, till their several opinions and affections had divided them in this quarrel; the Lord Fairfax adhering to the parliament, and the other, with great courage and sobriety, to the king." Mr. Belasyse m. Grace, dau. and heiress of Sir Thomas Barton, of Smithells, co. Lancaster, and dying in the lifetime of his father, left issue, THOMAS, successor to his grandfather. Henry, d. unm.

Rowland (Sir), K.B., m. Anne, eldest dau. and heiress of James-Humphrey Davenport, Esq., of Sutton, co. Chester, and dying in 1699, left

THOMAS, who s. as 3rd Viscount Fauconberg.

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Barbara, m. 1st, to Walter Strickland, Esq., son of Sir Robert Strickland, of Sizergh; and 2ndly, to Sir Marmaduke Dalton, of Huxwell, Yorkshire.

John, created LORD BELASYSE, of Worlaby, 27 January, 1644, (see that dignitu).

Margaret, m. to Sir Edward Osborne, of Kiveton, ancestor of the DUKE OF LEEDS.

Mary, m. to John, Lord Darcy, of Aston.

Barbara, m. to Sir Henry Slingsby, Bart., of Scriven, co. York, who was put to death under Cromwell's usurpation, and d., as he said on the scaffold, for being an honest man. Ursula, m. to Sir Walter Vavasor, of Haslewood, Bart. Frances, m. to Thomas Ingram, Esq., eldest son of Sir Arthur Ingram, of Temple Newsom, Yorkshire.

His lordship d. in 1652, and was 8. by his grandson,

THOMAS BELASYSE, 2nd viscount, who m. 1st, Mildred, dau. of Nicholas, Viscount Castleton, by whom he had no issue; and 2ndly, 18 November, 1657, at Hampton Court, Mary, dau. of the protector Cromwell. Of this nobleman Lord Clarendon gives the following account:-"After Cromwell was declared protector, and in great power, he married his dau. to the Lord Fauconberg, the owner of a very great estate in Yorkshire, and descended of a family eminently loyal. There were many reasons to believe that this young gentleman, being then about three or four-and-twenty years of age, of great vigour and ambition, had many good purposes that he thought that alliance might qualify and enable him to perform. His marriage was celebrated at Whitehall (Wood has given the time at Hampton Court), with all imaginable pomp and lustre. And it was observed, that, though it was performed in public, according to the rites and ceremonies then in use, they were presently afterwards, in private, married by ministers ordained by bishops, and according to the form in the book of Common Prayer, and this with the privity of Cromwell." In 1657, his lordship was made one of the council of state, and sent the next year, by his father-in-law, with a complimentary message to the court of Versailles. This was the only employment Lord Fauconberg had under the Usurper; for, as the noble author before-mentioned relates, "his domestic delights were lessened every day; he plainly discovered that his son Fauconberg's heart was set upon an interest destructive to his, and grew to hate him perfectly." Of Lady Fauconberg, Burnet writes:"She was a wise and worthy woman, more likely to have maintained the post (of protector) than either of her brothers; according to a saying that went of her, that those who wore breeches deserved petticoats better; but if those in petticoats had been in breeches, they would have held faster." That his lordship forwarded the Restoration, is evident from his being appointed, by the restored monarch, in 1660, lord-lieutenant of the bishopric of Durham, and in the same year, lordlieutenant and custos-rotulorum of the North Riding of Yorkshire. He was soon afterwards accredited ambassador to the state of Venice and the princes of Italy, and nominated captain of the band of gentlemen pensioners. In 1679, Lord Fauconberg was sworn of the privy council; and again, in 1689, upon the accession of King WILLIAM and Queen MARY, when his lordship was created EARL FAUCONBERG, by letters patent, dated 9 April, in that year. He d. 31 December, 1700, and leaving no issue, the EARLDOM EXPIRED, while his other honours reverted to his nephew (refer to Sir Rowland Belasyse, K.B., 3rd son of the 1st lord),

THOMAS BELASYSE, Esq., as 3rd Viscount Fauconberg. His lordship m. Bridget, dau. of Sir John Gage, of Firle, in Sussex,

Bart., and co-heiress of her mother, who was dau. of Thomas Middlemore, Esq., of Edgbaston, co. Warwick, by whom he had surviving issue,

THOMAS, his successor.

Henry.

Rowland, d. unm., 9 April, 1768.

John, d. an infant.

Mary, m. 4 April, 1721, to John Pitt, Esq., 3rd son of Thomas Pitt, Esq., governor of Fort St. George.

Anne and Penelope, both of whom d. unm.

His lordship d. 26 November, 1718, and was s. by his elder

son,

THOMAS, 4th Viscount, who was created EARL FAUCONBERG, of Newborough, co. York, 15 June, 1756. His lordship m. 5 August, 1726, Catherine, dau. and heiress of John Betham, Esq., of Rowington, co. Warwick, and co-heiress of William Fowler, Esq., of St. Thomas, co. Stafford, by whom (who d. 30 May, 1760) he had issue,

Thomas, d. an infant.

Thomas, b. 29 June, 1740.
HENRY, his successor.

Catherine, d. 12 January, 1788.

Barbara, m. in April, 1752, to the Hon. George Barnewall, only brother of Henry Benedict, Viscount Kingsland, buried at St. Pancras Church, Middlesex.

Mary, m. 23 July, 1776, to Thomas Eyre, Esq., of Hassop, co. Derby.

Anne, m. 20 April, 1761, to the Hon. Francis Talbot, brother of George, 14th Earl of Shrewsbury.

His lordship, who conformed to the established church, d. 4 February, 1774, and was s. by his son,

HENRY BELASYSE, 2nd earl. His lordship m. 1st, 29 May, 1766, Charlotte, dau. of Sir Matthew Lamb, of Brocket Hall, co. Hertford, Bart., and had four daus., his co-heirs, viz.,

CHARLOTTE, b. 10 January, 1767, m. to Thomas Edward Wynn, Esq. (3rd son of Colonel Glynn Wynn), who assumed the surname and arms of BELASYSE, in addition to his

own.

ANNE, b. 27 December, 1760, m. Sir George Wombwell, Bart., of Wombwell, co. York, and d. 7 July, 1808, leaving a son and heir, SIR GEORGE WOMBWELL, Bart., who m. 23 June, 1824, Georgiana, 2nd dau. of the late Thomas Orby Hunter, Esq., of Crowland Abbey, and had with other issue, the present SIR GEORGE ORBY WOMBWELL, Bart., who now possesses Newburgh Hall, the old seat of the Belasyses. ELIZABETH, b. 17 January, 1770, m. 23 April, 1789, to Bernard Howard, Esq. (afterwards 12th Duke of Norfolk), from whom she was divorced in 1794, when she re-married Richard, 2nd Earl of Lucan.

HARRIOT, 6. 21 April, 1776, d. unm.

The earl m. 2ndly, Miss Chesshyre, but had no issue. He d. 23 March, 1802, when the EARLDOM became EXTINCT, but the other honours devolved upon his kinsman (refer to descendants of the Hon. Henry Belasyse, eldest son of Sir Thomas Belasyse, the 1st Viscount),

ROWLAND BELASYSE, as 6th Viscount, who d. s. p. in 1810, and was 8. by his brother,

The REV. CHARLES BELASYSE, D.D., of the Roman Catholic Church, as 7th Viscount, b. 7 May, 1750, at whose decease, in 1815, the Barony and Viscounty of Fauconberg became EX

TINCT.

Arms-Quarterly, 1st and 4th, arg., a chev. gu., between three fleurs-de-lis, az.; 2nd and 3rd, arg., a pale ingrailed between two pallets, plain, sa.

BELASYSE-BARONS BELASYSE, OF WOR-
LABY, IN THE COUNTY OF LINCOLN.

By Letters-Patent, dated 27 January, 1644.
Lineage.

THE HON. JOHN BELASYSE, 2nd son of Thomas, 1st Viscount Fauconberg, having distinguished himself as one of the gallant leaders of the royal army during the civil wars, was elevated to the peerage on the 27 January, 1644, as LORD BELASYSE, of Worlaby, co. Lincoln. At the commencement of the rebellion, this eminent person arrayed six regiments of horse and foot under the royal banner, and had a principal command at the battles of Edge-Hill, Newbury, and Knaresby, and at the sieges of Reading and Bristol; and being appointed, subsequently, governor of York, and commander-in-chief of the king's forces in Yorkshire, he fought the battle of Selby with Lord Fairfax. His lordship being lieutenant-general of the counties of Lincoln, Nottingham, Derby, and Rutland, and governor of Newark, valiantly defended that garrison against the English and

Scotch armies, until His Majesty came in person, and ordered it to surrender; at which time he had also the honour of being general of the king's horse-guards. In all those arduous services, General Belasyse deported himself with distinguished courage and conduct, was frequently wounded, and thrice incarcerated in the Tower of London. At the restoration of the monarchy, his lordship was made lord lieutenant of the east riding co. York, governor of Hull, general of His Majesty's forces in Africa, governor of Tangier, and captain of the king's guards of gentlemen pensioners. In the reign of King JAMES II., Lord Belasyse was first lord of the treasury. His lordship m. 1st, Jane, dau. and sole heiress of Sir Robert Boteler, Knt., of Woodhall, co. Hertford, by whom he had issue,

HENRY (Sir), K.B., who m. 1st, Rogersa, dau. and co-heir (with her sister Elizabeth, Duchess of Richmond and Lenox) of Richard Rogers, Esq., of Brianston, co. Dorset, by whom he had no issue; and 2ndly, Susan, dau. and co-heiress of Sir William Armine, Bart., of Osgodby, co. Lincoln (which lady, who d. in 1713, was created, 25 March, 1674, BARONESS BELASYSE, of Osgodby, for her own life, after the decease of her husband), by whom he left, at his decease, in 1668, an only son,

HENRY, of whom presently, as 2nd LORD BELASYSE. Mary, m. to Robert, Viscount Dunbar, of Scotland.

Lord Belasyse m. 2ndly, Anne, dau. and co-heiress of Sir Robert Crane, of Chilton, co. Suffolk; and 3rdly, Anne, dau. of John, 5th Marquess of Winchester, by whom he had several children, of which the following alone survived infancy,

Honora, m. to George Lord Abergavenny, and d. 8. p. Barbara, m. Sir John Webb, Bart., of Oldstock, Wilts, and had, with other issue, a son, Sir Thomas Webb, Bart., father of two sons, Sir John Webb, 5th Bart. (whose granddau. and heiress, Lady Barbara Ashley-Cooper, m. Hon. William Francis Ponsonby who was created BARON DE MAULEY), and Sir Thomas Webb, 6th Bart., father of Sir Henry Webb, 7th Bart.

Katherine, m to John Talbot, Esq., of Longford

Isabella, m. to Thomas Stoner, Esq., of Stoner, co. Oxford, d. s. p. 1706.

His lordship d. in 1689, and was 8. by his grandson,

HENRY BELASYSE, 2nd baron, who m. Anne, dau. of Francis, son and heir of Robert Brudenel, Earl of Cardigan; but died 8. p. in 1692, when the BARONY OF BELASYSE became EXTINCT, while the estates reverted to his lordship's aunts by the half blood, as co-heiresses.

Arms Arg. a chevron gu. between three fleurs-de-lis, az. with due difference.

BELLENDEN-LORD BELLENDEN.

By Letters-Patent, dated 10 June, 1661.

SIB WILLIAM BELLENDEN, of Broughton, the only son of Sir James Bellenden, of Broughton, and grandson of Sir Lewis Beilenden, Knt., of Auchinoule, adhered to the royal cause during the civil war, and was created a peer, by the title of LORD BELLENDEN, OF BROUGHTON, 10 June, 1661. The same year he was constituted treasurer-depute, and was sworn a privy councillor. He d. unm. about 1671, having previously made a resignation of his title and estate into the hands of CHARLES II., in favour of John Kerr, 4th son of William, 2nd Earl of Roxburghe, who accordingly succeeded to them at his death, and was 2nd Lord Bellenden.

Arm-Gu a hart's head, couped, between three crossCrosslets, fitchée, all within a double tressure, counterflowered,

or.

BELLEW-BARON BELLEW, OF DULEEK.

By Letters Patent, dated 1686,
Lineage.

The first who settled in Ireland appears to have been ROGER DE BELLEW, the common ancestor of the various families of the name seated in the sister island. From him directly descended*

SIR JOHN BELLEW, Knt., of Bellewstown and the Roach, successor to his father in 1542, who m. Margaret, dau. of Sir

⚫The intermediate Lords of Bellewstown and Duleek intermarried with the D'Arcys, Fitzgeralds (Earls of Kildare), St. Lawrences, Flemings, Gernons, and Prestons.

Oliver Plunket, of Beaulieu, and left, with other issue, a son and successor,

SIR JOHN BELLEW, Knt., of Bellewstown, who m. 1st, in 1599, Margaret, dau. of Oliver Plunket, Lord Louth; 2ndly, Janet Sarsfield, of the Lucan family; and 3rdly, Ismay Nugent. By his 1st wife, Sir John had several children. The 3rd son, JOHN, of Lisfrannan and Willystown, was progenitor of Patrick, LORD BELLEW, of Barmeath, lord lieutenant of the co. Louth: of SIR CHRISTOPHER BELLEW, Bart., of Mount Bellew, co. Galway; of HENRY CHRISTOPHER GRATTAN-BELLEW, Esq., &c. The eldest

son,

SIR CHRISTOPHER BELLEW, Knt., of Bellewstown, m. 1st, Alice, dau. of Sir Thomas Cusack, lord chancellor of Ireland; and 2ndly, Catherine, dau. of Sir William Sarsfield, of Lucan. By the former he left at his decease a son and successor,

SIR JOHN BELLEW, of Bellewstown, knighted 5 November, 1626, who m. Aminetta, dau. of John Barnewell, Esq., recorder of Drogheda, and was father of

SIR CHRISTOPHER BELLEW, Knt., of Bellewstown, who m. Frances, dau. of Matthew Plunket, Lord Louth, and had issue,

I. JOHN (Sir), his heir, created BARON BELLEW.

II. Matthew, of Rogerstown, an officer in JAMES's army, slain at the Boyne, leaving by Frances, his wife,

1 Matthew, of Rogerstown, whose dau. and heiress m.
Dominick Trant, Esq.. and had issue. This line is extinct.
2 Patrick, who m. Honor, dau. of G. Neville, Esq., and
had an only son,

ROBERT BELLEW, Esq., of Castle Martyr, co. Cork (where
his father settled and was buried), who m. Bryanna, dau.
and co-heir (with her sisters, Mrs. Hanning, of Kilcrone,
and Mrs. Forstert) of - Wright, Esq., co. Cork, and
left, with two daus., a son and heir,
PATRICK BELLEW, Esq., of Ballendiness, Castle Martyr
who m. Sarah, sister of the late Gen. John Pratt, R.I.A.,
and cousin to Sir Charles Pratt, Col. Kenah, &c., and
had issue,

ROBERT, his heir.

Patrick, major 54th foot; d. s. p. at Gibraltar.

Bryanna, m. to Richard Fitton, Esq., of Gawsworth, near Cork.

The elder son,

ROBERT BELLEW, Esq., barrister-at-law, m. Sophia, dau. of
Joseph Fowke, Esq., and had issue,

Patrick-Edward, lieutenant of engineers, d. young, 8. p.
FRANCIS-JOHN, of whom presently.
Christopher, H.C.S., deceased

Henry-Walter, captain H.C.S., and dep -assist.-quartermaster-general in Bengal, m. in 1830, Anna, 3rd dau. of Captain Jeremie, and has Henry, Patrick, and other issue.

Frances, d. unm.

Louisa, m. to John-Baker Graves, Esq., of Fort William, co. Limerick, now of Somerset, co. Wexford, nephew of Dean Graves, and had issue, Frances, m. to Mumford Campbell, Esq., of Sutton Place, Kent; Sydney, and other children.

Sarah-Margaret, d. unm.

The 2nd but eldest surviving son,

FRANCIS-JOHN BELLEW, Esq. captain on the retired list, H.C.S., and formerly dep.-assist.-commissary-general, Bengal; b. 19 January, 1799; m. in November, 1819, Ann, dau. of the late Simon Temple, Esq., formerly of Hylton Castle, co. Durham, sister of the Rev. William-S. Temple, rector of Dimsdale, co. Durham, and had Francis, Patrick-Beckett, Sophia, and other children. 3 Robert, of Ballydonell, co. Louth, left issue. 4 Thomas, of Gaffney.

The eldest son,

SIR JOHN BELLEW, of Bellewstown, knighted by King JAMES II., was elevated to the peerage of Ireland, as BARON BELLEW, of Duleek, 29 October, 1686. He m. (Mar. Lic. 28 November, 1663), Mary, eldest dau. and co-heir of Walter Bermingham, Esq., of Dunfert, co. Kildare, and had two sons and a dau., Margaret, wife of Thomas, Earl of Westmeath. His lordship dying 12 January, 1692, having been mortally wounded at Aughrim, was 8. by his son,

WALTER BELLEW, 2nd Lord Bellew, who commanded a troop in the Duke of Tyrconnel's regiment of horse; he m. 1686, Frances-Arabella, eldest dau. of Sir William Wentworth, of Northgatehead, Yorkshire, sister to the Earl of Strafford, and by her (who d. 1723) had two daus., his co-heirs,

MARY, m. 1702, to Denis Kelly, Esq., of Aughrim, co. Galway.
FRANCES ARABELLA, M. — Horncastle, Esq., and d. 1732.

His lordship d. in 1694, and was 8. by his brother,
Richard Bellew, 3rd Lord Bellew, who m. 1695, Frances,

* From Alice's sister descended the late Marquess of Thomond and Lord Shannon.

+ Grandmother of Clement Forster, Esq., of Ballamaloe Castle, near Cloyne.

3rd dau. of Francis, Lord Brudenell, and by her, who d. in 1735, had two sons, JOHN, his heir, and Walter-Bermingham, b. 1707, d. young, and one dau., Dorothea, b. 1696, m. 1st, 1717 Gustavus Hamilton, Esq., father of Viscount Boyne; 2ndly, to William Cockburn, Esq., of Redford, King's County; and 3rdly, to Captain Dixon. Lord Bellew, who was attainted, but afterwards restored, having conformed to the Protestant religion, d. 22 March, 1714, and was 8. by his son,

JOHN BELLEW, 4th Lord Bellew, b. in 1702, who m. 1st, 1731, Lady Anne Maxwell, dau. of William, Earl of Nithsdale, and had by her, who d. 3 May, 1735, a dau., Mary-Frances, b. in Italy, 1733, who d. s. p.; he m. 2ndly, Mary, only dau. of Maurice Fitzgerald, Esq., of Castle Ishen, relict of Justin, 5th Earl of Fingall, and of Valentine, Earl of Kenmare, by whom he had two daus., Emilia, m. to General Count Taafe, of Bohemia, brother to R. Viscount Taafe; and Anne, m. to- Butler, Esq. His lordship m. 3rdly, Lady Henrietta Lee, dau. of GeorgeHenry, Earl of Lichfield, but by her had no child to survive infancy. He d. in 1770, when the Barony of Bellew became

EXTINCT.

Arms-Sa., fretty, or.

BELLOMONT-EARLS OF LEICESTER.

By Charter of Creation, dated anno 1103.
Lineage.

ROBERT DE BELLOMONT, OR BEAUMONT (son of Roger, grandson of Turlof of Pont Audomere, by Wevia, sister to Gunnora, wife of RICHARD I., Duke of Normandy), came into England with the CONQUEROR, and contributed mainly to the Norman triumph at Hastings. This Robert inherited the earldom of Mellent in Normandy, from his mother Adelina, dau. of Waleran, and sister of Hugh (who took the habit of monk in the abbey of Bec), both Earls of Mellent. Of his conduct at Hastings, William Pictavensis thus speaks: "A certain Norman young soldier, son of Roger de Bellomont, nephew and heir to Hugh, Earl of Mellent, by Adelina his sister, making the first onset in that fight, did what deserveth lasting fame, boldly charging and breaking in upon the enemy, with that regiment which he commanded in the right wing of the army," for which gallant services he obtained sixty-four lordships in Warwickshire, sixteen in Leicestershire, seven in Wiltshire, three in Northamptonshire, and one in Gloucestershire, in all ninety-one. His lordship did not however arrive at the dignity of the English peerage before the reign of HENRY I., when that monarch created him EARL OF LEICESTER. The mode by which he attained this honour is thus stated by an ancient writer: "The city of Leicester had then four lords, viz., the king, the bishop of Lincoln, Earl Simon, and Yvo, the son of Hugh de Grentmesnel. This Earl of Mellent, by favour of the king, cunningly entering it on that side which belonged to Yvo (then governor thereof, as also sheriff, and the king's farmer there), subjecting it wholly to himself; and by this means, being made an earl in England, exceeded all the nobles of the realm in riches and power." His lordship m. 1096, Isabel, dau. of Hugh, Earl of Vermandois, and had issue, WALERAN, who s. to the earldom of Mellent. ROBERT, Successor to the English earldom.

Hugh, surnamed Pauper, obtained the EARLDOM OF Bedford from King STEPHEN, with the dau. of Milo de Beauchamp, upon the expulsion of the said Milo. Being a person (says Dugdale) remiss and negligent himself he fell from the dignity of an earl to the state of a knight; and in the end to miserable poverty.

With several daus., of whom,

Elizabeth, was concubine to HENRY I., and afterwards wife of Gilbert Strongbow, Earl of Pembroke.

Adeline, m. to Hugh de Montfort.

A dau., m. to Hugh de Novo Castello.
A dau., m. to William Lupellus, or Lovel.

This great earl is characterised as "the wisest of all men betwixt this and Jerusalem, in worldly affairs; famous for knowledge, plausible in speech, skilful in craft, discreetly provident, ingeniously subtile, excelling for prudence, profound in council, and of great wisdom." In the latter end of his days he became a monk in the abbey of Preaux, where he d. in 1118, and was s. in the earldom of Leicester by his 2nd son,

ROBERT (called Bossu), as 2nd earl. This nobleman stoutly adhering to King HENRY I. upon all occasions, was with that monarch at his decease in 1135, and he afterwards as staunchly supported the interests of his grandson, HENRY II., upon whose accession to the throne, his lordship was constituted

Justice of England. He m. (1119) Amicia, dau. of Ralph de Waer, Earl of Norfolk, by whom he had a son, ROBERT, and two daus.; one, the wife of Simon, Earl of Huntingdon, the other of William Earl of Gloucester. The earl, who was a munificent benefactor to the church, and founder of several religious houses, d. in 1167, after having lived for fifteen years a canon regular in the abbey of Leicester, and was 8. by his son,

ROBERT (surnamed Blanchmaines, from having white hands), as 3rd earl, who adhering to Prince Henry, in the 19th of HENRY II., in his rebellion, incurred the high displeasure of that monarch. The king commanding that his town of Leicester should be laid waste, it was besieged, and the greater part burnt; the inhabitants having permission for £300 to move whither they pleased. He was received however into royal favour in four years afterwards (1177), and had restoration of all his lands and castles, save the castle of Montsorel, in the co. of Leicester, and Pacey in Normandy; but surviving King HENRY, he stood in such favour with RICHARD I., that those castles were likewise restored to him, and he was appointed to carry one of the swords of state at that monarch's coronation. His lordship m. Patronil, dau. of Hugh de Grentemesnil, with whom he had the whole honour of Hinkley, and stewardship of England, and had issue,

ROBERT FITZPARNEL, his successor.

Roger, bishop of St. Andrews, in Scotland. William, founder of the hospital of St. Leonards, at Leicester. It is from this William that the great Scottish house of HAMILTON is said to be descended, but the statement is scarcely reconcileable with dates and circumstances. It is more probable that the ancestor of the Hamiltons, if a Bellomont, was a younger son of Robert, 2nd Earl of Leicester. Amicia, m. to Simon de Montfort, who after the earldom of Leicester expired, with the male line of the Bellomonts, was created Earl of Leicester by King JOHN (see Montford, Earl of Leicester).

Margaret, m. to Sayer de Quincy.

The earl d. in his return from Jerusalem, at Duras in Greece anno 1190, and was 8. by his son,

ROBERT (surnamed Fitz-parnel from his mother), 4th earl, who in 1191, being at Messina, on his journey to the Holy Land, was invested into his father's earldom of Leicester, by King RICHARD, with the cincture of a sword. After which, whilst his royal master was detained in captivity by the emperor, the King of France having invaded Normandy, and taken divers places, this earl coming to Roan, excited the inhabitants to so vigorous a defence, that the French monarch was obliged to retreat. Furthermore, it is related of him, that making a pilgrimage into the Holy Land, he there unhorsed and slew the Soldan in a tournament, when returning into England, he d. in 1204, and was buried in the abbey of Leicester, before the high altar, betwixt his mother and grandfather. His lordship had m. Lauretta, dau. of William, Lord Braose, of Brember, but having no issue, the EARLDOM OF LEICESTER became EXTINCT, while his great inheritance devolved upon his two sisters as co-heirs, which was divided between them, thus

SIMON DE MONTFORT, husband of Amicia, had one moiety of the earldom of Leicester, with the honour of Hinkley, and was created EARL OF LEICESTER; he also enjoyed the stewardship of England, as in right of the said honour of Hinkley. SAYER DE QUINCEY, husband of Margaret, had the other moiety of the earldom of Leicester, and was shortly after created EARL OF WINCHESTER. (See that dignity). Arms.-Gu., a cinquefoil, erm., pierced of the field.

BELLOMONT-EARL OF BEDFORD.

(See Beaumont, Earl of Leicester.)

BENHALE-BARON BENHALE.

By Writ of Summons, dated 3 April, 1360.
Lineage.

ROBERT DE BENHALE, a soldier of distinction in the expedition made into France, in the 10th year of EDWARD III., and again in two years afterwards, in the expedition made into Flanders, was summoned to parliament as BARON BENHALE, on 3 April, 1360, but nothing further is known of his lordship, or his descendants, "who never," says Sir Harris Nicolas, "ranked among the barons of the realm.' Banks states, however, that this Robert de Benhale was the 4th husband of Eva, dau. and heir of John, Lord Clavering, and that he d. s. p., and was buried in the Abbey of Langley.

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