Corbet family

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Corbet
CorbetArms.svg
One variant of the arms of the Corbet family: Or, a raven sable
Country Kingdom of England, Kingdom of Great Britain, United Kingdom
Founded11th century
FounderRoger and Robert Corbet
Historic seat Moreton Corbet Castle
Titles
MottoDEUS PASCIT CORVOS
God feeds the Ravens
PeterCorbet1301d.JPG
CorbetArms.JPG
Arms of Peter Corbet (died 1322), 8th feudal baron of Caus [1] and 2nd Baron by writ, as shown on his seal attached to the Barons' Letter, 1301: Or, two ravens sable. Legend on seal: Sigillum Petri Corbet ("Seal of Peter Corbet")
Remains of Moreton Corbet Castle Moreton Corbet Castle from west 01.JPG
Remains of Moreton Corbet Castle

The Corbet family is an aristocratic English family of Anglo-Norman extraction, who were amongst the early marcher lords, holding the barony of Caus. Following the extinction of the senior line (and therefore the loss of the barony) the junior line based at Moreton Corbet Castle would go on to become one of the most powerful and richest of the landed gentry in Shropshire.[ citation needed ] The family trace their ancestry to two barons found in the 1086 Domesday Book and they probably came from the Boitron and Essay region, near Sées in Normandy. [2]

Contents

The name Corbet derives from the Anglo-Norman word corb, meaning "crow" or "raven", [3] matching the modern French corbeau. Variants of the name include: Corbet, Corbett, Corbitt, Corbit, Corbetts, Corbete, Corben and possibly the variant of Corbin. [4] The underlying derivation is from the Latin word corvus, crow. Generally it is thought to be a jocular reference to a person who was thought to resemble a crow or raven: in hair colour, tone of voice or shape of nose. However, the Scandinavians believed that a raven on the battlefield was a beneficial omen and ensured victory.

Furthermore in Italy there are two families called Corvo (or Corbo) and Corvino (or Corbino), in English they mean Crow and Little Crow respectively. These families descend from the Roman gens Valeria, the first descendants of Valeri Massimi while the second descendants from Valeri Poplicola. The surname is really due to an event described by Tito Livius in book 7, chapter 26 of "Ab Urbe Condita". A battle is described where the Roman military tribune Marcus Valerius was helped by a crow during a duel and for this he took the nickname Corvus.


History

Feudal barons of Caus and their descendants

In the Domesday Book of 1086, Roger Corbet and his brother Robert were listed as some of the most important tenants-in-chief of the king and the powerful Marcher Lord Roger, Earl of Shrewsbury [5] [6] Roger Corbet is generally believed to have been the first feudal baron of Caus in Shropshire, which was a barony within the marcher lordship of Roger de Montgomerie (died 1094). He was succeeded after 1121 by his son Robert Corbet (d. pre-1155). He was succeeded by Roger Corbet, who himself was succeeded by Robert (died 1222), who left a son Thomas who died in 1274. There followed his son and heir Peter Corbet (died 1300) who left a son Peter Corbet (died 1322), who died childless. The barony then passed to his half-brother John. Although the family soon died out in the senior line, when the barony was lost, cadet branches spread out and thrived.

Corbets of Moreton Corbet

From the eclipse of the senior line at Caus, the most important Shropshire branch of the Corbets was that of Moreton Toret, later called Moreton Corbet, where they had a castle. Members of this branch regularly represented Shropshire, and sometimes other constituencies, in the House of Commons of England over several centuries. They were among the most powerful and richest of landed gentry families in the county, especially in the 16th century, when there was no resident aristocracy. [7] Together with its offshoots at Stoke upon Tern and Stanwardine, the Moreton Corbet family played a major part in the county's passage through the English Reformation and the English Civil War. Some of the Corbet politicians are featured in the family tree below. The Corbets long retained part of their former vast estates in Shropshire. The Return of Owners of Land, 1873 showed that, of the 13 landowners who owned more than 8,000 acres in the county, two were Corbets: Sir V. R. Corbet owned 9,489 acres and I. D. Corbet owned 8,118 acres.

The Corbets of Moreton Corbet, Stanwardine and Stoke

Based on pedigrees derived from the Heraldic Visitation of Shropshire, 1623, [8] and in Augusta Corbet's family history, [9] supplemented by more recent information from the History of Parliament Online. [10]

Katherine, daughter of John le Strange of Knockin and Myddle Sir Robert Corbet (died 1300) of Moreton Toret and Wattlesborough Matilda (died 1309), daughter John de Arundel
AmiceThomas Corbet (died 1310) of Moreton Toret and WattlesboroughFulk Corbet, Canon of Lichfield Cathedral John Corbet
Sir Robert Corbet (1304–75) of Moreton Toret and WattlesboroughElizabeth, daughter of Fulk, 1st Baron Strange of Blackmere
Robert de HarleyJoan Corbet John Darras of Sidbury and Neenton ElizabethSir Fulk Corbet (died 1382) of Moreton Corbet
ElizabethSir Thomas Corbet (died c.1359) Sir Roger Corbet (died 1395) of Moreton Corbet Margaret Erdington (died 1395)
Alicia Harley Sir John Ipstones (d. 1394) of Blymhill Elizabeth CorbetJohn de la Pole of Dinas Mawddwy Elizabeth Corbet, heiress to Wattlesborough
ROBERT CORBET of Moreton Corbet (1383–1420)MargaretWilliam Mallory of Papworth St. Agnes Roger Corbet (died 1430) of Shrewsbury Elizabeth Lichfield of Eastham, Worcestershire
Thomas MalloryHumphrey Stafford of FromeMargaret Corbet
Thomas Corbet of Moreton Corbet (died c.1436)Ancaret de BarreAnna or Julianna CorbetJohn SandfordMary CorbetRobert Charlton
Roger Corbet of Moreton Corbet (died 1468)Elizabeth HoptonDorothea CorbetPhilip Kynastone
Anna or Julianna CorbetThomas Sturry of RossallElizabeth CorbetRichard Cholmeley of ChesterSir Richard Corbet of Moreton Corbet (died 1493)Elizabeth, daughter of Walter Devereux, 8th Baron Ferrers of Chartley
Thomas Thornes of Shelvock Maria CorbetThomas Crump of Upton Magna Jane Corbet
Katherine CorbetThomas Onslow of Rodington, Shropshire Anna CorbetThomas Cornwall of Burford, Shropshire Elizabeth CorbetThomas Trentham of Shrewsbury
Sir Robert Corbet of Moreton Corbet (died 1513)Elizabeth (d. 1563), daughter of Sir Henry Vernon of Tong and Haddon Thomas Lacon of Willey, ShropshireMaria CorbetRichard Mainwaring of Ightfield Margaret Corbet
Anne Windsor, daughter of Andrew Windsor, 1st Baron Windsor Roger Corbet (died 1538) of Moreton Corbet and Linslade Richard Corbet of Poynton Margaret Savile Reginald Corbet of Stoke upon Tern Alice Gratewood, co-heiress of Sir Rowland Hill
Jane Needham Sir Andrew Corbet (died 1578) of Moreton CorbetRobert Corbet of StanwardineJane Kynaston Jerome Corbet of BeslowDorothy PoynerRichard Corbet of StokeAnne Bromley, daughter of Sir Thomas Bromley
Robert Corbet (died 1583) of Moreton Corbet Richard Corbet (died 1606) of Moreton CorbetJudith AustinWilliam BoothbySir Vincent Corbet (died 1623) of Moreton CorbetFrances Humfreston Sir John Corbet, 1st Bart., Puritan and Parliamentarian Anne Mainwaring of Ightfield
Elizabeth Boothby Sir Andrew Corbet of Moreton Corbet, ParliamentarianMargaret CorbetThomas Corbet of StanwardineSir John Corbet, 2nd Baronet, Cavalier
Sarah Monson Sir Vincent Corbet, 1st Baronet of Moreton Corbet, Cavalier Elizabeth Ludlow Robert Corbet of Stanwardine, lawyer and Parliamentarian

Channel Islands Corbets

The Corbets of the Channel Islands are documented in numerous Extentes namely; 1309 Roll of Assizes – 2 references to "Richard Corbel" of Trinity 1272 Extentes – 1 reference to "Raoul Corbel" 1331 Extentes – 1 reference to "Richard Corbel", and 2 each to "Jean Corbey" and "William Corbey" 1528 Extentes – 1 reference to "Vincent Corbel" of Trinity 1607 Extentes – 1 reference each to "Silvester Cobell", "Hellier Corbet", "Vincent Corbell", "John Corbell" and 2 references to "Drewet Corbell" 1668 Extentes – 1 reference to Corbel family 1749 Extentes – 2 references to "Elizabeth Corbet, daughter of James Corbet"[ citation needed ] Some of these Corbets were born Jersey and the most notable was – Major Gov. Moses Corbet (1728–1814) – Lieutenant Governor of Jersey.[ citation needed ] Most of the Corbets had already moved to or later moved to Guernsey where the family flourished until c. 1956 upon the death of William Corbet, son of Jean Thomas Corbet.[ citation needed ] By the 20th century the Corbets were the largest land owners in the Vale Parish once known as the Clos du Valle.[ citation needed ] The Corbets under Jean Thomas Corbet Esq. (1836–1926) owned and operated two granite quarries which they exported stone to England.[ citation needed ] Louise Corbet, daughter of Jean Thomas married John Bichard and thus together the families created the first glasshouse growing operation in Guernsey; the vast estate was called "Les Landes".[ citation needed ] The Corbets entertained King George V and Queen Mary on their visit to the vineries in 1921.[ citation needed ] The Corbets' Fruit Export Company thrived and they were suppliers to Buckingham Palace. In the 1930s the Corbet family donated land that would become the Corbet Field, an important athletic area.

Notable descendants and relatives of Jean Thomas Corbet include; – Denys Corbet (1826–1909), poet and painter. (cousin) – Christian Cardell Corbet (born 1976), FA, FRSA, portrait sculptor and painter, sculptor in residence – Royal Canadian Navy and benefactor; regimental sculptor – The Royal Canadian Regiment. [11] [12]

Scottish branch

The first Corbet in Scotland came from Shropshire, and settled in Teviotdale under Earl David (later King David I of Scotland) in the first quarter of the 12th century. He is said to have obtained the manor of Fogo which he held as a vassal under the Earls of Dunbar.[ citation needed ]

Robert fitz Corbet appeared in Scotland in about 1116 as one of the retinue of Earl David, who later became King David I. The author, Augusta Corbet, who wrote The Family of Corbet – Its Life and Times, says that Robert was the son of Roger Corbet and grandson of Corbet le Normand. It is said he belonged to the family which held Drayton in Northamptonshire.[ citation needed ]

Robert Corbet was a witness in the instrument or Inquisition made by David, Prince of Cumberland, into the lands belonging to the old Church of Glasgow, and is also a witness in other deeds of David when he was King of Scotland (1124–53).[ citation needed ]

The Cumberland or Cumbria of those days extended to the Clyde, and included Glasgow, which David incorporated into Scotland. David appears to have allotted lands in Roxburghshire to Robert Corbet, where his descendants were "great lords of several generations". For many centuries the Corbets held lands in the Scottish Borders and were loyal to Scotland. By the late 13th century, the Corbets owned land in the Castle Douglas/ Dalbeattie areas in addition to their traditional tenures. A century later, Constantine Corbet owned lands in Fife and a Walter Corbet owned lands around Lochmaben. By the late 16th century, Corbets owned lands in Clydesdale, with Symont Corbet's will showing land held near Hamilton (1574).

In 1745 the Corbets supported the British Government. When Bonnie Prince Charlie landed in Scotland. Robert Corbet, then provost of Dumfries, rode out with his men to meet him and warned the Prince to stand aside as Dumfries would have nothing to do with him. He then returned to Dumfries and locked the gates against the Prince.[ citation needed ]

Throughout the 17th and 18th centuries, Corbets were busy in Scotland in a variety of occupations, including shipmasters, tanners, tailors, schoolmasters, weavers, etc. In 1784, James Corbett was a weaver in Larkhall and in Hamilton, other Corbetts were prospering in the late 18th century. Janefield, part of the Tollcross estate and now a cemetery, was occupied and farmed by a James Corbett in 1751.[ citation needed ]

The Scottish Corbett branch of the family currently hold the title Baron Rowallan. [13] Their arms include the raven seen on the arms of the English branch of the family and they share the same motto Deus Pascit Corvo - God feeds the ravens.

Castles and seats

1880s image of Jean Thomas Corbet and wife taken by Grut photographers, Guernsey Channel Island JeanThomasCorbet1880's.jpg
1880s image of Jean Thomas Corbet and wife taken by Grut photographers, Guernsey Channel Island
A postcard c. 1920 of Acton Reynald Hall Acton Reynold Hall.jpg
A postcard c. 1920 of Acton Reynald Hall
Rowallan Castle, Ayrshire Rowallan castle ayrshire.jpg
Rowallan Castle, Ayrshire
Stanwardine Hall, Shropshire: the home of Robert Corbet and his family. From a drawing of 1901. Stanwardine Hall.jpg
Stanwardine Hall, Shropshire: the home of Robert Corbet and his family. From a drawing of 1901.

Armorials

Arms of Corbet baronets of Moreton Corbet, cr. 1808: Or, a raven sable CorbetBaronetsOfMoretonCorbetArms.JPG
Arms of Corbet baronets of Moreton Corbet, cr. 1808: Or, a raven sable
Arms of Corbet of Chaddesley Corbett: Or a raven proper within a bordure engrailed gules. ArmsOfCorbetOfChadesleyCorbet.JPG
Arms of Corbet of Chaddesley Corbett: Or a raven proper within a bordure engrailed gules.
Arms of Corbet of Siston, Glos. & Hope, Salop.: Argent, a raven proper within a bordure sable bezantee. These arms continued to be quartered by the Denys family of Siston ArmsCorbetofSiston&Hope.jpg
Arms of Corbet of Siston, Glos. & Hope, Salop.: Argent, a raven proper within a bordure sable bezantee . These arms continued to be quartered by the Denys family of Siston

Family legend has a mythical Corbet le Normand arriving in 1066 with William the Conqueror from Normandy carrying a banner displaying a raven, from his supposed name Le Corbeau, usually translated from Norman French as "the Raven". [19]

Sir Roger Corbet displayed two ravens proper on a gold shield with a bordure red engrailed under King Edward III;

Sir Peter Corbet, 2nd Baron of Caus, displayed two ravens proper on a gold shield at the Battle of Falkirk in 1298, as recorded in the Falkirk Roll and in the Barons' Letter, 1301;

Sir Thomas Corbet, displayed two ravens proper on a gold shield; Sir Thomas Corbet, displayed three ravens proper on a gold shield at the First Dunstable Tournament in 1308;

Sir Thomas Corbet, displayed six ravens proper on a gold shield with a red canton with 2 silver lions passant gardant in 1567.

Other variations include A Raven or two Ravens and a key on a Silver Shield. The arms of the recently extinct Corbet baronets are: Or, a raven sable. [20]

References

Citations

  1. Sanders, I. J., English Baronies, Oxford, 1960, Caus, p. 29.
  2. Keats-Rohan, K. S. B. (1999). Domesday People . Boydell Press. pp.  373, 400. ISBN   9780851157221.
  3. Hanks et al. (2002), p. 141
  4. Hanks et al. (2002), p. 152
  5. Sanders, I. J., English Baronies, Oxford, 1960, p. 29.
  6. "Open Domesday Project". University of Hull. Archived from the original on 17 October 2013. Retrieved 19 August 2012.
  7. Coulton (2010), p. 40
  8. Grazebrook and Rylands, p. 134-38.
  9. Corbet, facing p. 368.
  10. History of Parliament Online.
  11. "The Regimental Website of the Royal Canadian Regiment". Archived from the original on 12 December 2013. Retrieved 6 December 2013.
  12. "A Royal Portrait | Prince Philip".
  13. "No. 28512". The London Gazette . 11 July 1911. p. 5169.
  14. Leighton, Stanley (1901): Shropshire houses past & present
  15. "Rowallan Castle Ancestral Home of Clan Muir". Clan Muir. Retrieved 25 May 2009.
  16. "Rowallan Castle, Kilmarnock, Scotland". old-picture.com. Retrieved 25 May 2009.
  17. Debrett's Peerage, 1968, p. 204.
  18. Burke's General Armory, p. 228.
  19. Corbet, Augusta E., The Family of Corbet, its Life and Times, vol. 1
  20. Debrett's Peerage, 1968, p. 204.

Bibliography

  • Coulton (2010), Regime and Religion: Shrewsbury 1400–1700, Logaston Press, ISBN   978-1-906663-47-6
  • Hanks, Patrick; Hodges, Flavia; Mills, A. D.; Room, Adrian (2002), The Oxford Names Companion, Oxford University Press, ISBN   0-19-860561-7

Further reading

Sir Bernard Burke: The general armory of England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales, Harrison, London, 1884, accessed 9 December 2013 at Internet Archive

Augusta Elizabeth Brickdale Corbet: The family of Corbet; its life and times, Volume 2 at Open Library, Internet Archive, accessed 9 December 2013.

George Grazebrook and John Paul Rylands (editors), 1889: The visitation of Shropshire, taken in the year 1623: Part I by Robert Tresswell, Somerset Herald, and Augustine Vincent, Rouge Croix Pursuivant of arms; marshals and deputies to William Camden, Clarenceux king of arms. With additions from the pedigrees of Shropshire gentry taken by the heralds in the years 1569 and 1584, and other sources. Accessed 9 December 2013 at Internet Archive.

History of Parliament Online: Members, History of Parliament Trust, 1994, accessed 9 December 2013.