In a recent blog we looked at what sort of information title deeds can tell you. In this blog, one of our volunteers, Louise Haywood, has explored this theme in more detail, looking at a recent purchase made by Dorset Archives Trust…
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Nowadays we have a conveyance to transfer property or land between a seller and a buyer but in Tudor times they made things slightly more complicated and a variety of different documents were produced – Gifts, Feoffments, Letters Patent, Bargain & Sale, Quitclaims etc.
In essence, they were based on exactly the same principle as today because they made sure that no-one else claimed their land and it could be passed onto whoever they’d designated should receive it. More importantly, the documents often mention wives, as this would enable them to have a claim on the property if their husband died before them as up until the 19th century married women held no legal status, so these are a useful source for genealogists. This example is taken from a Quitclaim (meaning that a person or persons are quitting their claim to someone else) and is dated 1511.
Margaret’s husband was George Chalcote ‘Gentilman’ and she was also granted the lands that are mentioned in the document which already belonged to his family. Usually it would state where George came from; it doesn’t in this case. The only place names we have are the ones referring to the Chalcote’s property – a place called Chaldecote lying in the parish of ‘Kemyrche’ in the Isle of Purbeck, Hungerhill and Shitterton by Bere (all in Dorset) and in Ashbrittle (Somerset) which included the advowson (the right to appoint a clergyman). By consulting Hutchins’ History of Dorset, we can see that Hungerhill is on the Trigon Estate lying between Wareham and East Stoke. Chaldecote lay between Smedmore House and the Purbeck coast in East Kimmeridge. Neither place name has survived except for Shitterton.
Quitclaims are usually written in Latin on parchment although the odd English word can creep in like ‘Gentilman’ for example:
They are written in a set formula with those renouncing their claim to the property or properties at the beginning followed by the name or names of those receiving the premises and then a list of the property. So, in this case those renouncing their claim are cited as Thomas de la Lynde, esquire, Richard Densham, gentleman, William Trigge, clerk (as in priest), and John Jolyff, clerk:
This little document may also have provided a confirmation of Margaret’s surname as a Richard Densham is shown. In Hutchins’ pedigree of CHALDECOT of East Whiteway and Quarrelston, he has a query by her name as to whether she was the daughter and heir of Richard Densam [sic] of Quarrelston and she is not even mentioned in ‘The Visitation of Dorsetshire’ in 1623 so this little document is the only evidence found so far of her existence.
There is a lot to be learned from one small item of Dorset’s archival heritage!
Richard chaldecot (b.1400) had a son named Richard (b.1420) he came to quarrelston, was MP for Wareham.
Richard jr had two kids kids, ironically one named Richard again (b.1445) and William (b.1443) both with the name Chaldecot.
William Chaldecot inherited the wilt’s estate by his wife Alice. William had a son called George chaldecot (b.1475). George had a son named William Chaldecot, his partner/ wife was maned “Margaret Chaldecot”.
Margaret was daughter of sir John Rogers who became earl of Portland.
William was a gent of quarrelston.
This may be the Margaret you are searching for in this article. There are a lot of things many do not know.
My name is Carl Chaldecott distance relative of all of these people.
This is all logged in my family tree, in which goes back to Charles de la court (b.1040) whom came over from Normandy with William the conqueror and was appointed governor of corfe castle when it was built.
Unfortunately my family also had a play in the destruction of corfe castle during the parliamentary civil war with Richard (b.1585, d.1656) being the over officer commanding the distrustion of code castle. Richard’s son was John (b.1612). John was a colonel in cromwells army.
My family have been governors to castles, as well as chaplains to kings. John de chaldecot, chaplain to king Ed iii in 1331.
The Chaldecott name changed a few times over time. In 1040 my ancestor was Charles is full name was “ Charles de la court”. The name Chaldecott, with two t’s came from Chaldecot with one t. The name chaldecot came from “de chaldecot”. The name “de chaldecot” came from the reference for “charles de la court”. Charles was of the courts, hence the name “de la court”.
I hope all of that is readable and I hope I have solved a puzzle for you.
I just came across this page by chance and I felt I may be able to help spread some possibilities that may link some dots.
Yours gracefully,
Mr Carl Chaldecott.
Of Hampshire.
Hi Carl – thank-you so much for all of this information! You’ve certainly done a lot of research to get back to relatives in 1040!
Sorry for the late reply.
Unfortunately I cannot take the credit for studying my family tree, this was done prior to my time.
The unfortunate truth is that many notable characters are actually in place that my ancestors should be rather than them.
In other words, history has false information. Dorset has false information.
We came over with William the conqueror, in fact, I have even spoken to Williams 23rd grandson, descendent of farm hands whom was also aboard the ship. (No longer in contact, simple pass of family tree kind of situation).
History states something that does not correspond to the actual people who was where they were at giving times.
Charles de la court was actually the first real governor of Corfe castle.
John De Chaldecot was chaplain to king Ed iii. You will not find him on the list of chaplains for king Ed iii.
If you looked up who was the O/C (over charge) of the destruction of Corfe Castle, you will find a man called “ Hughes of Lulworth”.
What history fails to tell you is that the actual person over charge was a “Richard De Chaldecot”, a parliamentarian in the civil war, my ancestor.
Parliament was offered Unity with the government by the monarch if they destroyed the castle.
You’ll note that if you search “is parliament apart of the government” it will state they are not, this is incorrect information due to the offer made by the monarch. Unless of course that changed and I’m simply missing knowledge there.
Richard had son called “John”, he was a colonel in cromwells army.
I am more than happy to send my family tree in full to anyone this may help in regard to history.
I think a true picture is good to have.
However… there is whisper that’s been passed down in this family that we lost our nobility due to going behind a kings back and selling his land… I am not sure about all of that, nor which king or relative was in mention.
It has been a strong understanding that my family history may have been replaced by other names, take for instance the overcharge of corfe destruction.
Why such names are miss placed causes a suspicion that leads to the possibility of a deliberate miss information campaign. My question has always been why?
Does this tie with the story’s of an ancestor selling land behind a kings back? I may never know.
All I do know by fact is that we were nobles working side by side with royals and greats. Something changed dramatically.
We have a crest with the motto “Esse quim videri”, or, to be rather than to seem to be.
We even have a seal granted by king Ed iii of a griffin head.
Technically speaking, I should be able to use this seal today on a letter directly to the monarchy.
You may know that the banks family invested in corfe castle and the lands around 1635.
It is noted that they purchased this from a man called “mountjoy blount”.
My family have know for years that this bank’s family was who we “sold land too”, leading further into the understanding of miss information and perhaps false documentation.
You may know that there is a Chaldecott house listed in Dorset.
This home was fought over as to who should claim it.
I strongly believe the wrong family live in that home! This I may never prove.
There are two families in England to my understanding with the same second name as myself.
My family is the Chaldecotts of Dorset, our name formed from Charles de la court.
The other family is the Chaldecotts of caldecote, the name was originally derived from the Old English word ceald-cote and literally meant the dweller at the cold-huts.
This family have done really well.
My family have been wiped from the face of history… why? Is my question.
Once nobles, once colonials for cromwel, once governed corfe castle, once royal chaplain.
What happened? We may never know but one thing is for certain… history has many wrong chapters.
I am sorry this message is long, I fear I may not get a chance to talk again about this to you so I thought I would do my best to try show you some key points.
I would love to actually visit our once home town and showcase my family tree (book). I feel our history is very important to this area and my goal in life is to be nothing but noble as my ancestors once were.
Maybe I can find a little spark of life in me going back to my roots.
Maybe there is something there for me… who knows.
If I was to plan a visit, whom or where do you feel would be a great place to start?
Thank you for your reply and again, I am sorry this is lengthy.
If you wish to contact myself you can via Carl.a.chaldecott@gmail.com.
I say this because evidently I did not notice your reply as I’m pretty slow when it comes to threads I must keep up with.
Email is the best method of contact.
I would love to hear back from you and from the heart, I would love to bring my families passion back into our legacy.
Dorset means a lot to our name.