Genealogy - A Brief History Of Heraldry and the Satterlee Family Origins

The Origins of Heraldry

The word “Heraldry” is derived from the German “heer” -- a host, an army -- and “held” -- a champion. The term “blason,” by which the science of heraldry is denoted in French, English, Italian, and German, is probably derived from the German word “blazen” -- to blow the horn.

This knowledge of the various devices and symbols was called Heraldry, and as the announcement was accompanied with the sound of a trumpet, it was termed “blazoning the arms.”

The earliest coats of arms were fairly simple -- bars or wavy lines, a lion rampant or an eagle displayed, or an arrangement of fleurs-de-lis. The designs became more complex as the years passed, and the practice of quartering (incorporating the arms of other families acquired through marriages) developed.

Historians once theorized that a coat of arms enabled a knight to be recognized by his followers during battle. The coat of arms became hereditary just as a knight inherited the right to lead or the duty to follow another leader in battle.  Later historians dispute this theory based on the small numbers of knights who had any followers.  Also, due to the dirt and grime of battle, it is unlikely that the coat of arms would be easily recognized.  It is more likely that the coat of arms was designed for use in tournaments and games.

Regardless of their origins, coats of arms became status symbols, and their popularity increased along with the popularity of the tournament, which was developed in the mid-eleventh century in France. By 1400 A.D., bearing a coat of arms had become a prerequisite to participation in a tournament, and due to the importance of social standing in such pageants, a coat of arms also became a mark of noble status.

The Origins of The Satterlee Coat of Arms

Coats of arms are not awarded to a family or a name, but to an individual.  This is why there is often more than one coat of arms associated with a given surname.  The name and circumstances of the first Satterlee to have been awarded arms is not entirely clear.  While there are mentions of Satterlee's in early records, these accounts are not as specific as we might like.  To understand the origins, it is very helpful to understand the history and lifestyle of our ancestors.  The following account is a greatly simplified version of the story, without a full appreciation for the richness of history and the lives of these individuals. Maybe we can engage in this exploration at some other time.  The following is derived from the work of Goldie Satterlee Moffatt Fowler.  Her original notes, some of which have come into my possession, contain a wealth of information, as do the family genealogy books that she published. 

The Rise of House Satterlee

The Manor of "Soterlega" apparently existed about 1042 or before, as it is mentioned in the Domesday (or Doomsday) Book as being part of the estate of Hugh Abrinis, Earl of Chester. The book says (with explanatory notes in parantheses):

Soterlega Mundret holds it now (1070) and Burchard held it in the reign of Edward the Confessor (1041p-66); 1 1/2 carucates, (a measure of land used for the assessment purposes in early England equaling 180 acres) as a manor (estate administered as a unit); then Bordars (tenants who hold a cottage and a few acres of Land), now 16; and 2 serfs; then 2 ploughs on the desmesne (an estate of which the owner is in possession), now 3, and 3 oxen; woodland for 100 swine; 4 acres of meadow; then, as now, 1 rouncey (riding horse); 14 cows, 31 swine, 120 sheep, 30 goats, then as now; worth 53 shillings 4 pence rent.

Suckling, in his "History of Antiquities of the County of Suffolk", says the Manor of Sotterley was one league (3 miles) in length and 9 furlongs (1 1/2 miles) in breadth.

Early in the reign of Henry III (1216-1240) Philip Bocland, Lord of Shaddingfield, obtained a license of free warren (defined as "a privilege which one has in lands given by royal grant for hunting and taking wild birds & beasts of warren to the exclusion of any other person not entering by permission". A Wildlife preserve,) in Sotterley along with the right to hold a market and a fair annually. A younger son of his took the name of the manor as a surname, but apparently did not inherit.

So did the use of arms originate with one of these -- or did it come about later?  The historical record gives us no indication of when the use of arms started, however it was most likely in use by the time of Sir Edmund de Soterley of  Soterley
 

The Life and Times of Nobility and Knights

Here a more excerpts from the historical records.  The language is a bit difficult, however it may give you some insight into the deeds (and misdeeds) of our ancestors.

Sir Edmund de Soterley of  Soterley, Knight, was High Sheriff of Suffolk 12-Sep-1233. Respite for a fine from making himself a Knight for 3 years previously, at Michaelmas, 26-Mar-1256.

His son and heir was: Sir Roger de Soterley of Soterley , Knight, witness to a deed on charter from Sir  Nicholas de Cryol, Knight, to Guy Ferrers of his Manor of Benehale, County Suffolk in 1289, confirmed the 14-June-1294. Sir Roger de Soterley and Sir John de Bellemonte were appointed Commissioners of Array to assess & levy the King's Tenth (property taxes) on personal property in the County of Suffolk on 12-Nov-1294. Sir Roger de Soterley, Alan de Goldyngham and Hugh de Muryant were appointed to the same post on 4-Nov-1302. Sir Roger also held the Manors of Argyle, Stoke & Worral in the County of Chester by the same tenure as he held Sotterley; that is, he furnished "a horse  fully equiped" for the Welsh War. A horse fully equipped meant a knight with horse and armour and approximately 10 foot soldiers with their equipment and supplies. These men were all supported in one way or another from the surpluses of manors they came from. Sir Roger fielded a force of  about 45 men. He left two sons at his death in 1322.

John, was one son of Sir Roger.  He was sued by Thomas Charles for entering his free warren at Tretenham & Little Hanby, County of Norfolk and taking away his fish, rabbits & hares, 10-Dec-1301. He was on the Subsidy Rolls (tax rolls) in Suffolk in 1327 and paid II shillings I pence tax.

Now some of the names are the same here, but pay attention to the dates. 

Sir Edmund de Soterley of Soterley, Knight. Pardon granted to Edmond de Soterley for acquiring in fee without license from Sir Robert de Soterley, Knight, 2 tofts (sites for a dwelling house) and 4 carucates of land in Stoke and Harthe in Worral, County Suffolk, held in chief, with restitution of the same 2-Dec-1311. Edmund de Soterley, Lord of the Villa of Soterley, was on Subsidy Rolls of Suffolk in 1327 and paid 6 shillings and 7 pence tax. Commission of Oyer and Terminger on 4-Feb-1328 to Robert Banyard, John Claver, Thomas de Reppes and Thomas de Birston on complaint of John de Howeworth that Edmund de Soterley, Riginald de Welyngton, Thomas Guage, Wm. de Dellyrige, and Clarice, his wife & Peter Ie Bone, Robert, Howeworth, Norfolk, By fine of one mark because he is so poor. 1-Aug-1332,  commission of Oyer and Terminer issued to Roger de Kordeston, Thomas Bacon and Thomas Reppes on complaint of Katherine, the wife of the late Robert Fitz Auburn, that Edmund de Soterley, Knight, Edmund his son, Roger le of  Soterley and John Elliott of Soterley, did, at Soterley, brake in pieces a cart of his, worth 20 shillings, killed 3 horses, carried away his goods & assaulted his servants; by a fine of one mark. In the Red Book of Fees for the Exchequer (treasury) in the Court of Chester there are 82 Fees, or holdings, in the Court of Chester there are 82 Fees, or holdings, in the County of Ehester according to the Inquistion (fact finding) made by Alan le Zouche when Justice among others; Edmond de Soterley, 1 fee, 18-Mar-l338. Sir Edmund was a Knight of the Shire, of Edward III (1331-1333). His wife Joan had two sons: 1. Sir Roger, 1344, no issue. 2. Sir Edmund.

Sir Edmund de Sotterley the Younger, Knight. License for 60 shillings paid to the King by the Master of the Hospital for Lepers, St. Magdalen, Beccles, Suffolk for the alenation in Mortmain by Richard Walkfare, "Chevalier" Thomas "Chevalier" John, "Chevalier" Edmund de Soterley and Alexandre de Ulverton,,,"Chevalier" Edmund de Soterley and Alexandre de Bouresgard. Parson of the church of Barsham to him and the Brethren and sisters of the Hospital of 2 shillings of rent, issuing out of the Manors of Barsham and Herst 6-Feb-1362; wife's name, Margaret. He died in 1389. When the sheriff made return that Edmund de Soterley held, at the time of death, jointly with Margaret his wife, the Manor of Soterley with the advowson (right of presenting a nominee to a vacant ecclesiastical benefice, rectory or vicarage, of the Church) and that Roger de Soterley was his son and heir. Margaret  died in 1384, for in that year the Sheriff returned that Margaret, widow of  Edmund de Soterley, Knight, held at the time of her death the Manor and advowson of the King as of the County of Chester by the service of one Knight's fee.

Roger de Soterley, their son and heir, held these estates by the same tenure and purchased of Sir Ralph Bigod, Knight, 11 shillings 6 pence per annum rent, with the rent of 1',500 herrings in Gislingham and Soterle. He  had two sons: 1. Walter (see below), and 2, Edward who was the father of John de Soterle who claimed one messuage and 30 acres in Soterley in 1434; but this was clearly an usurpation as he was of the younger branch. In the Court Books will be found this entry in 1434, in Latin: "Johannes de Soterley aravit quandam divisionem inter ter ad prejudicium Dui". In 1459 we  find his only child is Katherine, as wife of John Lisk of Badingham.

Sir Walter de Soterley, Knight, died in 1410, leaving two sons, both minors. "Commission in Oyer and Terminer to John Lancastre, William Waller &.James Andrew to inquire into the report that diverse wastes have been committed in the County Suffolk, which was taken into the custody of Henry IV, by the deatg if Walter de Soterle, tenant in chief, and by reason of the minority of Thomas, brother and heir of Edmund, 5-July-1416."  (Apparently whoever was responsible for the manor during the minority of Edmund and Thomas did not do his duty and so Henry IV sent Lancastre., Waller and Andrew to set things right.) Walter's sons were: Edmund, died unmarried. 2. Thomas.

If you read carefully, you see that our ancestors led interesting lives, even from this scanty documentation.

The Fall of House Satterlee

Politics in England at the time were a pretty tricky thing.  It was easy to end up fighting for the wrong side during the War of the Roses.  Here's what happened:

Thomas Sotterley of Sotterley, whose wife's name was Elizabeth (probably the sister of Robert Baynard). In 1451 Sir Miles Stapleton, Edmund Clare of Castre, Esq., and Rober Baynard were feoffes (holders of land in return  for service to the Lord who owned it) of the Manor of Rollesby, County Norfolk, for Thomas Soterley of Soterley in Suffolk, Esq., which he ordered to be sold and the money to be disposed of for the soul of his wife Elizabeth (i.e. used to pay for the saying of masses), but Robert Baynard, was to have the refusal of the purchase. Robert Baynard was undoubtedly Elizabeth's brother, and the Baynards had at one time owned Rollesby in Norfolk.  Thomas Sotterley fought on the side of the Lancastrians in the War of the Roses and died in 1466, leaving: 1. Thomas (see below). 2. Elizabeth who married Sir Thomas Playter, to whom Sotterley was sold in 1669 by order of Edward IV, as Sir Thomas Playter had fought on the side of the Yorkists.

Sir Thomas Sotterley of Sotterley, Knight. Last Lord of the Manor, fought on the side of of Henry VI, and after the disastrous battle of Tewksbury in 1471 and the  death of Henry VI in 1472, he was compelled to alienate (let go) Sotterley to his brother-in-law, Sir Thomas Playter to whom Sotterley had already been granted in 1469 by Edward IV. He moved to Norwich, Norfolk, and married Elizabeth, daughter and co-heiress to Sir Thomas Bedingfield of Oxburgh, County Norfolk. Both he and his wife died in 1477 and were buried in the Austin Friars at Norwich. Their monumental brasses are still to be seen there. Sir Thomas had sons 1. John of Chellesworth, County of Suffolk
who died unmarried in 1518. 2. William (see below).

Oh my, the family lost the manor and the right to the arms.  Surely things can't get worse.

 

And Things Go Good and Then Bad and Then Good and Then....

William Satterley, (spelled this way for the first time). Succeeded to the  property of his brother John at Chellesworth but died later the same year, 1518, leaving a son and heir Nicholas.

Nicholas Satterley of Chellesworth who died in 1558. His son was; Solomon Satterley of Chellesworth. He sold his interest in the estate and moved to London. He died while on a visit to a town in Cheshire in 1599, and left 2 sons. 1. Julian (see below). 2. Jasper, also called Gaspar, who went to Devon with his older brother, Julian, and settled at Payhembury where he died in 1629. The will was filed in Exeter.

Julian Satterley came to Devon after his father's death in 1599, settling at Lustliegh, near Exeter, where he died in 1628.

Nicholas Satterley settled at Silferton where he died in 1644. He had 3 children: 1. William (see below). 2. Thomas, who settled at Sherbrook where he died in 1652, and had Thomas who married 5-May-1656, Thomazine Macy. 3. Petronilla married, 17-Dec-1628, Alexander Risdon.

William Satterlee was born at Silferton near Exeter in County Devon in 1610 he matriculated at Pembroke College, Osford, on 6-Feb-1629, aged 19 years. He earned his B.A. 1633; MA. 1635. In 1640 he became Vicor of Ides, Devon.  He was arrested by Cromwell and imprisoned for his loyalty to Charles I, but was released at the restoration of Charles II in 1660. The name of his wife  was not recorded, He had 5 sons and perhaps some daughters.

 

A New Beginning - The Five Sons of William Satterlee

Richard Satterlee was born in 1651.  Matriculated at Wadham College, 18-Mar-1665.  He apparently stayed in England until his death.

Nicholas Satterlee was born in1649.  He relocated to Westerly, Rhode Island. in 1669.  He married and had three children.

William Satterlee was born in 1650- He relocated to America around 1675, in Connecticut and then settled on Long Island in New York with his family.

Giles Satterlee Matriculated , Exeter College, Oxford 1-Mar-1671. Received B.A. at St. Mary's Hall, 8-Mar-1675.  He became Vicar of Cornworthy, Devon, England in 1682.

Benedict Satterlee was born 1657.  he was captain of a ship trading between England and the New World until he married in 1682 and settled near New London, Connecticut.

And it is with this generation that the historical record becomes a bit stronger.  The family was obviously able to overcome the loss of the manor and the loss of their social standing.  The Coat of Arms remains as a tribute to the greatness of our ancestors and the promise to which their descendants shall strive. The story of these five brothers each deserves its own space.  The future proves to be an interesting story for these five sons and their descendants.  And that's several (thousand) other stories.