Peach Genealogy - Newsletter, Issue 14
THE PEACH/PEACHEY PROJECT
The Electronic Peach Tree Issue 14
Editor: John Harding Peach Peachroot@aol.com
WEB PAGE: http://home1.gte.net/tpeach/Genealogy/Genealogy.htm
As we made our journey from Hastings north to Suffolk, our bus tour led us through some significant sites in the county of Kent in the southeastern corner of Great Britain. Here we saw three castles held by our ancestors, as we recognized such high positions they held in Norman England.
I had no idea when I began researching the English records for our ancestry that we were from nobility. Coming from my humble background and knowing the Peaches I knew, there is no way I would have ever imagined the Peaches ever being in such prominent positions in the history of a nation.
Just imagine, if William de Peche had been a serf (a peasant), we would have no genealogy. Little if any records were kept of these who were the "low-life" of the kingdom. All serfs were concerned about was survival and implicit obedience to the nobles in control. Keeping their genealogical records was not on their agenda. And even if it was, who would have ever allowed them to record them and keep them for posterity.
However, with our common ancestor being a noble, we have the good fortune of having volumes of records of our roots in England. They're all there for the searching.
If you want to research these records, the best place to start is in the Public Record Office in London. I have spent many days perusing the historical annuls there looking for nothing more than the Peach/Peachey records. Best of all, when I was there in 1989, it was free!!!
Before we highlight the castles we have visited, let me just say I am glad you have started exploring the potential of our OneList. Thanks to Dr. William Peachy who spured us on, some of you are now putting your genealogical background on OneList and giving everyone on board a chance to get to know you. Thus, if anyone can relate to your information, they can form an identity with you and perhaps help you with your research.
I would like to encourage each of you to do the same. The sooner we know of each other's background, the sooner we will be able to form a bond of relationship with others on board.
May I also say that as I began sharing about the history of England, I do not claim to be an authority on England or English history. In fact, I feel intimidated by those on board who are English. This is your country, and no one should know it better than you do. I will do the best I can with what I know, but if anyone on board knows better than I about a subject, don't hesitate to share that with us. More important than me being correct is for us to know the absolute truth about the matter.
DOVER CASTLE
Dover Castle is one of the oldest and most popular in Great Britain. King Henry II had its keep built in the 12th century. (The keep was the strongest and most secure part of a medieval castle). However, a lighthouse on its grounds was built by the Romans (called the "Pharos") as early as the first half of the first century A.D. Thus, it is the oldest lighthouse in England.
The Romans occupied England from the first century B.C. to the fifth century A.D. As early as 55 B.C. Julius Caesar first claimed England for the Romans, landing 6000 men at Dover.
Looking down from the Castle is Dover's famed port. This was one of the five ancient ports of Great Britain, referred to as a Cinque Port. It was said that whoever controlled the Cinque Ports of England controlled the nation.
Dover is known for its white cliffs. ROLF (Ralph) de PECHE, son of William de Peche I, HELD the manor of Westcliff, Kent, located on these white cliffs.
We must pause here a moment to look at the meaning of "HELD". Keep in mind that all property in England at that time belonged to the king (or queen). There was no private ownership of property in England during the feudal times when there were nobles and serfs and castles.
If a noble was faithful to the king, then the king would grant him the right to hold property for his highness. In exchange, whenever the king needed an army, he would call upon the noble to rally his knights to the battle. Of course, if the noble rebelled or fell out of favor with the king, he not only lost his land but his head along with it.
ROLF de PECHE was the earliest Peche to acquire any properties in Kent. Much later, in 1276, BARON GILBERT PECHE III, the first Peche baron, paid a fee on Westcliff, showing it still was in the family. (The king granted to right to be a Baron only to those who reached the highest status of nobility in his kingdom. To those he gave control of his prized properties.)
However, the Dover area is not referred to again in Peche records until BARON JOHN PECHE III of Wormleighton appears. (See Issue 13 for the significance of the Wormleighton Branch, believed to be the ancestors of those whose surname became PEACH.)
In November 1323, Peche was appointed "Constable of Dover Castle and Warden of the Cinque Ports." These were both titles of great honor, indicating that the Peche was in high favor with then King Edward II.
According to Peck's records, there was also a THOMAS PECHE who was constable of Dover Castle in 1322 through 1325. This was apparently one of the six sons of JOHN PECHE III. Thomas also was the Sheriff of Kent in 1325.
One of the highlights of my visit to Dover was to find on a wall in the castle a history of those who held Dover Castle throughout the years. This portrayed the arms of each one who held it. There, on the wall was not only our common ancestor, JOHN PECHE III, but his coat of arms as well.
When 25 of us took our Peach Heritage Tour of England in 1990, the most exciting part of our trip was always finding the Peach/Peachey coats of arms prominently displayed on castle and church walls, windows and even ceilings.
While in Kent, we will also visit Tonbridge Castle and Lullingstone Castle, other properties involving the Peche ancestry.
Until next time, I am sincerely yours, John Peach.
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