Hougham
The Hougham family traces its ancestry back to the first Robert de Hougham, who was a Norman knight in the army of William the Conqueror in 1066. For his service he was granted a manor near Canterbury, England, which is now the Village of Hougham. One of the early de Houghams served in the Crusades under Richard the Lion Hearted at the Battle of Acre, 1095. Since that time there have been eight generations of Robert de Houghams, who served the church in the Village of Hougham. (Robert Hougham material).
Marian Hurley Pratt: “Hougham is a place name, a mixture of Norman and Saxon. `Hough' is Norman and means `a dweller on, or by, a hill or bluff.' The suffix `ham' is Saxon and means `a home.' Hasted says `Houghams were a branch of Averanches.'” (volume 9, p452).
“The manor of Hougham adjoins Dover Castle and the high, chalky cliffs of Dover. The Chateau de Arques of Averanch, France, has a similar situation and meaning. The Book of Domesday suggests that Baldwin was probably the Ancestor of Hougham. This family also owned Weddington Manor at Ash, Nevilles Fleet, and Barton Court of Canterbury, all in County Kent, England. Beginning at Whitstable, in Anglo Saxon days before England was known as a kingdom, it is one of the four most ancient of Britain.”
“The Manor of Hougham was part of the defense lands of Dover Castle, and was sometimes called the Elms, and Southcourt, or Chilverton. This manor of 190 acres in Flete extended into Dover, Folkestone, Newsborough and the Cinque Ports. Gravesend was in Hougham's Estate; it got its name because when the plague or Black Death was so bad, the victims were carried there and thrown into the sea—buried in the sea mostly unrecorded.”
Rognwald, Earl of More
Son Hrollager born.
Son Thiabault born (son Brisco).
Hrollager (son of Rognwald)
Married Emina.
Son Rollo Thurstien.
Rollo Thurstien (son of Hrollager and Emina)
Married Gerlotte of More.
ca 965: son Ansfred the Dane born.
Ansfred the Dane (son of Rollo Thurstien and Gerlotte of More)
ca 965: born.
ca 996: son Ansfred Goz II born.
First Viscount of Hiemois.
Ansfred Goz II (son of Ansfred the Dane)
ca 996: born.
Son Goz born.
Goz (son of Ansfred Goz II)
Son Wymund born.
Wymund, Witmund, or Guitmund (son of Goz)
Son William de Averanch born.
Of Normandy, France (Reference: Ordericus Vitalis).
William de Averanch (son of Wymund)
Married Matilda Emma de Brion (m/1 William de Avenell, son Ralph Avenell, Baron of Okehampton married Matilda of Baldwin de Redvers, Earl of Devon).
Son Ruallon born.
Son Robert born (adopted by his Uncle Richard de Brion and inherited the Barony of Okehampton of his half brother Ralph Avenell).
Daughter born (nun at Elstow with whom she gave 4 ½ virgates of land in Eywell. Reference: Mon. Ang. ut Supra).
Ruallon (son of William de Averanch and Matilda Emma de Brion)
Married Matilda or Maud de Muneville (daughter of Nigel de Muneville, Lady of Folkestone, Kent. She carried the Lordship of Folkestone and the land at Flete to Averanches by marriage. Her grandfather, William de Arcis, had 190 acres of land in Wingham, Kent. About 1086 he willed Flete to Maud and to Ruallon de Averanch. Ref.: Planche, p257-259).
1131: Sheriff of Kent.
Son Robert born.
Son William born.
1147: died.
One of the eight knights of Dover Castle, Kent, England.
Ancestry of Matilda or Maud de Muneville:
Gozelin
Daughter Jocelin born.
Son Geoffrey or Godfrey born.
Daughter Beatrice born (Fitz Gozlin).
Son William born.
Son Hugh born.
Viscount of Arques (Arcis in French, Arques in English).
Geoffrey or Godfrey (son of Gozelin)
Married Beatrice.
Son Geoffrey de Bolbec born.
Viscount de Arcis of Paye de Caux, Normandy or Fitz Gozelin (some say son of Osborne).
Geoffrey de Bolbec (son of Geoffrey and Beatrice)
Daughter Beatrice de Bolbec born.
Beatrice de Bolbec (daughter of Geoffrey de Bolbec)
Of Newington.
Married William de Arcis or de Arques (Lord of Folkestone, Kent, was a monk in 1088; died 1090 in France, “Willielmus filius Goidfride” in Domesday).
Daughter Matilda de Arques born (inherited the Norman possessions. She married William the Chamberlain of de Tankerville).
Daughter Emma of Folkestone born.
Son Osborne born.
Son Hugh born.
Beatrice and William were first cousins. She gave to the Church at Lonlay a moiety of Tithes.
Emma of Folkestone (daughter of William de Arcis and Beatrice de Bolbec)
Married Nigel de Muneville.
Daughter Matilda or Maud de Muneville born.
Married Manasses or Robert, Count de Guisnes.
Daughter born.
1095: Founded the Priory of Folkestone.
Matilda or Maud de Muneville (daughter of Nigel de Muneville and Emma of Folkestone)
Married Ruallon de Averanch (Sheriff of Kent 1131; died 1147).
Son Robert born.
Son William born.
Lady of Folkestone, Kent.
She carried the Lordship of Folkestone and the land at Flete to Averanches, by marriage.
From Planche's “Corner of Kent,” p44, “Beginning with the property which was owned by Ruellinus, the Father of Robert de Hougham, there remains his messauge in the field which is to the South from the thornbushes...and all the land where the thorns are...and next to the mill...and the field called Cnolla, and the field to the North of Noga...and another called Noll...and the part North from the road which reaches the walls of Ratteburgh (now Richborough) and a field Staldingburgha, and North Hoga, and East pasture and field Stepatra, and East part of acre South of the houses, and a moiety in the marshes and Salt Pits, and the Forstal.”
Robert de Hougham I of Kent (son of Ruallon de Averanch and Matilda or Maud de Muneville)
Of Hougham Manor near Dover. Holder of Knights Fee in Kent. He took the surname of Hougham, the meaning being the same as Averanch, a home in a hilly place.
Robert de Hougham II (son of Robert de Hougham I and ______)
1225: Of Hope House.
Died 41st of Henry II (1256). Inquisitions in answer to John Hougham, “Robert Hougham is heir and is eight years old.” A reference to Alan Hougham living 1289 of Cinque Ports, Dover, by Rev. Statham in “Castle, Ports and Towns of Dover.” p355.
Robert de Hougham III (son of Robert de Hougham II and ______)
Born 1250; died 1272/1274. Closely watched by John de Offeham on heirship. Robert was paying 40 shillings rent Knight fee and of Rochester Castle as Constable. Of Manor of Waveringe, Constable of Rochester Castle, Lord of Hougham. Died 2nd of Edward I. Reference: Harlequin Society Publishers 1929, p250 and VLXXXI. Notes and Queries, Derring Roll, Hasted and Planche, p390-396.
Married Beatrice (died 1271 of Dollenham, Sussex. “Her estate to her husband.” In time of 13th century many documents, Abstracts of Harlequin Society Publishers, 1729, volume 81, p250, Knights of Edward I, at law with John de Hougham 20 December 1274).
Robert de Hougham IV (son of Robert de Hougham III and Beatrice)
24? years old in 1274.
no date: married Alice ______.
Son Robert de Hougham V born.
Son Richard born.
1273: Jurate of Ash.
1293: owned Weddington Manor, Ash, Kent, England.
ca 1303: died 21 Edward.
Robert was known as Lord of the Manor and his title as knight was “Sir.” Alice was known as “Lady Alicia.” (References: MSS.R.27 College of Arms, Patent Rolls 15 June 1293, Close Rolls 25 Aug 1295, Writs Parliamentary 24 Nov 1297/8, Deed 18 Apr 130?, Fine Rolls holding land at Waveringe, G. Bocton, Monchaney, Manor, at ½ Knights fee, Hugham Manor 1 fee, and lands at Caldecote, Chilton, Hope, and Dover, all in Kent, and leaving S. and H. Robert (Inquisition), Allex. de Balliol made Custos of Hugham Manor in minority of heir 28 Apr 1302.
Fine Rolls: dower to widow Alice 11 July 1301. Close Rolls: she makes fine in 12 marks to marry at will 20 May 1304. At time of her death she owned Hope House, near Combe (Fine Rolls, Subsidy Rolls, Hasted's and Planche). In suit with John de Hugham over lands 30 Dec 1286. Patent Rolls 15 June 1293.
Robert de Hougham V (son of Robert de Hougham IV and Alice)
Born 1293 (21st of Edward I).
ca 1338: died.
Reference: Inquisitions of lands, 18 July 1316, Close Rolls, 5 March 1316, Fine Rolls, Parliamentary Writs, 6 June 1317, Arch. Cant., volume 10, page 122 and 143. Paid Assessment Aid to the Black Prince, A.D. 20 of Edward II, 1346/47 (References: Arch. Canterbury, v10, p122-143, Hasted's, v9, p451, Planche, p390-396). Some of these historians differ on wife and grandchildren (see Surrey Arch. Coll. vIII and Ireland's, v3, Hasted's, v6, p400, v9, p331, Visitations of Kent 1619, Family Wills and Lawsuits).
No sons. Daughter Benedicta married John de Shelvinge, Sheriff of Kent, 16, 17, 18, 19 of Edward I. Daughter Matilda married Waretius de Valoins, Sheriff of Kent, 31-32 of Edward I. A knight in Parliament. (See Hasted and Planche for further descent of the above families).
Benedicta de Hougham (daughter of Robert de Hougham V and ______)
no date: married John de Shelvinge (son of Waretius).
no date: daughter Benedicta de Shelvinge born; m/1 John of Sandwich, he was buried at the Convent, Priory of Blackfriars; m/2 Edward Haute, son of Sir Henry Haute of Hautes Place, Petham. Children:
1. Nicholas Haute born 1351, Sheriff of Kent.
2. William Haute.
m/3 Sir Thomas Uvedale of Titsey, Surrey (she was his fourth wife). Child:
1. Alice.
After Sir Thomas Uvedale's death, she was in lawsuits with his children over property. Benetta was buried beside her first husband, during the reign of Edward III.
no date: daughter Matilda or Maud de Hougham born; married Waretius de Valoignes, Valoins home—the Manor of Swerdling (References: Arch. Canterbury, v10, p122-143; Hasted's v9, p451; Planche, p390-396). Children:
1. Matilda de Valoignes; married Sir Thomas Fogge.
2. Maud de Valoignes; married Thomas de Adelyn (References: Hasted's, v12, p247, Ireland's, v2, p136-37, v3, p9-10).
Richard de Hougham (son of Robert de Hougham IV and Alice)
Prior of Dover 1350. Living in 1277?.
no date: son Simonus born.
Simonus of Ash (son of Richard de Hougham)
Living in 1350.
no date: son Robert born.
Robert de Hougham (son of Simonus of Ash)
Died at Ash.
no date: son Robert born.
Robert de Hougham (son of Robert de Hougham)
Of Elmstone, which is about three miles from Ash.
no date: ?son William born.
no date: son John born.
John Hougham (son of Robert de Hougham
no date: married Joan ______(buried in 1503 at St. Martin's, Canterbury, England).
no date: son William born.
1482: buried St. Martin's, Canterbury, England.
Lived Ash, Kent, England. Not listed in work of Marian Hurley Pratt (References: Visitations of Kent, Berry's Pedigrees, Parish Church of Ash, Wills). Other Hougham pedigree charts begin with John Hougham.
Authentic and main pedigree begins:
William Hougham (son of John and Joan (______) Hougham)
no date: married Elizabetha ______, of Sandwich.
no date: son Solomon born.
William de Hougha' of Elmstone. Living 1463. Wife Elizabeth widow in 1473. Lived Ash, Kent, England. The College of Arms begins the pedigree with William, notwithstanding most of the foregoing is from Charters and Documents in their library, though the proof is limited. “A Forgotten Past” heads the pedigree with John, Vicar of St. Martins, his will 1482. Marian Hurley Pratt says this is an error.
Will of Elizabeth Hougham, 2 Aug 1473, widow of Canterbury. Marian Hurley Pratt: “This will beings in the usual way: `In Deity name Amen.' Her name Elizabeth, composed mentally and good memory, widow of St. Mary's, Canterbury, to the Brotherhood of St. Mary's and to the light of St. Katherine's. It is very short, not signed or sealed, not of much genealogical value, the surname spelled “Hicham” or “Hugyham.” We get from it that she outlived her husband.
Solomon Hougham (son of William and Elizabeth (______) Hougham)
no date: married ______.
no date: son Stephen born.
no date: son Thomas born.
no date: daughter Joan born.
no date: ?son William born (not proven).
no date: ?son John born (not proven).
From A Forgotten Past, by F. H. Suckling, London: Geo. Bell and sons 1898: Solomon Hougham lies buried in Ash Church under the monument, on which is a carved mailed figure in armour with a tabard, on which is drawn argent on a chevron between three elephants heads erased, sable, as many mullets or. “This coat,” says Planche, “with different colours is found quartered with that of Brooke in the Herald's `Visitation of Kent,' A.D. 1619, and this figure.” Underneath is written, “Solomon Hougham.”
Marian Hurley Pratt: “Solomon Hougham...effigy is in St. Nicholas of Ash window of stained glass—a warrior in full armor of a knight kneeling on a cushion in prayer.”
Stephen Hougham (son of Solomon Hougham)
no date: married Bennetta Brooke (____-buried 9 June 1560, will probated 14 Oct 1560) daughter of John Brooke the elder. Reference: will of J. Brooke II, May 1582.
no date: son Michael born.
no date: daughter Elizabeth born.
no date: son Richard born.
20 Nov 1555/56: will dated.
1560: buried.
In his will Stephen gave to his son Michael and son-in-law Stephen Solly, his lease of Kete Marsh, and to his wife Bennett his lands at Elmstone and Flete, to _____ his home in Weddington, Ash...a messauge in Ickham, Bay (or Baa) House, also marsh, barns and lands in Richborro, rents from Nevil's Flete, and Swallow Brook in Ash, also land in Elmstone and Preston. Witnesses Thomas Harflete and Christopher Harflete.
Michael Hougham (son of Stephen and Benetta (Brooke) Hougham)
no date: married Edith Austen (erroneously called “Judith” and “Keith” by historians, of Adisham, England, will signed 5 Mar 1612 and proved 29 May 1613).
1569: son Michael born.
no date: daughter Elizabeth born (married Bateman).
no date: daughter Anne born (married Paramore).
4 June 1574: son Richard christened.
16 July 1575: daughter Bennett christened (married Thomas Contry, 1575).
22 June 1577: son Stephen born.
1583: died.
10 Dec 1583: will proved.
Buried in Ash Church. On the monument of Michael and his brother, Richard:
” They were men of both tall stature and comely
persons, besides were well esteemed among all
sorts of people, both for their virtuous lives
and also for their younger years, for their
good and thriftie government, not of themselves
onlie, but also they were a good stay in this
parish among their neighbours.
Michael died 1594. Richard died 1606.
Richard married the daughter of Edward Sanders,
by whom he had three sons, Michael, Edward and
Solomon, one daughter Anne, all yet living.”
Edith Huffam (widow) nee Austen, her will 5 Mar 1612: “In the name of God, Amen. The 5th day of March in the year of our Lord God 1612. Edith Hougham of the Parish of Norborne, in County of Kent my mind being of good and perfect memory do revoke all former wills by me made and do make my last will and testament in manner and form following. First I bequeath my soul to Almighty God being redeemed by the death and passion of my only Saviour Jesus Christ, and my body I commit to the earth from whence it was taken. I will to the poor of the parish of Ash 40 shillings and to the poor of the parish of Norborne 20 shillings. The following I give to my two daughters Bennett Contry and Anne Paramore __ pounds apiece and to Elizabeth Bateman my daughter £20. I give unto Michael Huffam the son of Richard Huffam my son all of my __ that is in Weddington, the Parish of Ash and a dozen of damask diapers __ and a tablecloth, and a hand bowl of the same. And all the set of my linens I give unto my three daughters to be equally divided between them except my wearing linene apparell I give to Elizabeth Bateman my daughter. I give unto Stephen my son all my plate, and after his decease to his son Stephen Huffam. I will unto Elizabeth Bateman my daughter, my house and land and stable and horses (a description follows) and after the decease of Elizabeth my daughter, I will the said home, barns, stable, lands, leases, unto my son Stephen Huffam and to his heirs forever. I will that Stephen Huffam shall pay unto Valentine Austen, my brother the sum of £54/3/4 in the year next after my decease, all the rest of my moveable goods and my debts paid, all legacies discharged, and my funeral expenses defrayed. I will and bequeath unto Stephen Huffam my son whom I make my executor. This is my last will and testament in witness whereof I have set my hand the day and year above written.” Read, sealed and published in the presence of Henhook Clayham, John Franks, Terry Hadlow. Signed Edith Huffam.
Michael Hougham (son of Michael and Edith (Austen) Hougham)
1569: born Ash, Kent, England.
11 Oct 1578: married Elizabeth Joade.
no date: m/2 Jane Brooke.
25 Jan 1595/96: son Brooke christened.
1596: died.
Michael Hougham of Ash, Will July 1596: “In the name of God, Amen. I, Michael Huffam of Ash next Sandwich, being sick of body but of perfect remembrance do make and ordain this my last will and testament in manner and form following this __ day of July 1596. First, I bequeath my soul to Almighty God and my body to be buried at the direction of my foemme(?). This is the last Will and Testament of me Michael Huffam made and ordained this day of year above said, concerning all my goods and lands wheresoever __. I will that my mother shall have £100 paid her by my executor in regard of certain debts I owe and her to be paid for within five months after my decease. Item. I give unto my wife nine of my best __ and five of my best __ also half of my best __ and also my best half of all my lands. Item. I give unto my wife the __ of to all my best bedsteads furnished, bedding, one feather bed and bolster with furnishings to be left unto my son when he shall accomplish his day of twenty and one years. Item. I likewise give her the use of one bedstead in the little chamber over the parlor buttereye until my son Brookes accomplish his age of 21 years and be left unto the house.