About a year ago, I posted that Edouard had been found - the information was uncovered in the first edition of Edward A. Freeman's multiple volume series on The Norman Conquest, first edition only. That information had originally been discovered by Dennis Robert Chute, and passed along to his brother Steve verbally; Steve passed the news to me, also verbally. Robert (Dennis) was to have mailed the pages he discovered to Steve ... however, before doing that, he wanted to do a little research on the information he located.
Apparently, the research took a little bit longer than anyone anticipated!
Steve reports that Robert has apparently been spending the past year corresponding with every expert on the Ango-Saxons and the Normans he could find ... what he has shared with Steve (still verbally, although we hear the documentation is going to be arriving - sometime!) - has all but stopped everyone in their tracks. Apparently, our Edward was known in official 1066-era documents not only as Edward Chute (or a variation thereof - I'm still not sure how it was spelled at the time) but - here's the kicker - he was known and indentified by a second name as well: Edward Sebert or Saeberht. (I'm not sure how that was spelled, either).
Not surprisingly, Steve and I both had the same sharp-witted reaction to this news: "Huh? Who? What?" For at least two centuries Chutes have been hunting the elusive Edouard Chute or LeChute or LaChute or Shute or Chewte or Shoute or Choute or Chete or LeChete ... through every available source we could find - and strangely enough, none of us thought to simply look him up under the name "Saeberht". How short-sighted of us!
Silliness aside, after taking a moment of two to adjust (and after only a few moments of rudimentary Internet searching), we realized that this other identifying name he was known by - Sebert or Saeberht - was in actuality more of a stunner than we at first realized, because, first, it identifies him as, at least in part if not all, a Saxon rather than a Norman. The name "Chute" still has stronger Norman ties, at this point. And secondly, possibly not just any Saxon - it may connect him in some capacity with the original Saeberht - one of the more famous Anglo-Saxon Kings, and nephew of King Aethelbert of Kent. I'm not sure how it connects him to the original Saeberht - adjunct? Descendant? Distant relative? He just liked the name? - at this point.
Anyone who has been paying attention to recent archeological news - and I'm sure all of us have - will recognize the startling coincidence of the appearance of our Edward Saeberht followed by the sudden well-publicized re-appearance, posthumously, of the original King Saeberht himself - in Southend-on-Sea.
Saxon king's burial chamber yields its secrets
(Filed: 05/02/2004)
"Historians believe they may have found King Saeberht's resting place". David Derbyshire reports.
A burial chamber, believed to be that of an early Christian king who ruled over Anglo Saxon Essex nearly 1,400 years ago, has been uncovered by archaeologists.
The discovery, due to be announced today, is one of the most important finds in decades, researchers say. Although the bones have long vanished from their resting place, historians believe the chamber may have belonged to King Saeberht, the nephew of King Ethelbert and the first Christian king of Essex.
The chamber was unearthed during a routine inspection being carried out for a road widening scheme in Southend-on-Sea. David Miles, chief archaeologist at English Heritage, said: "This is a discovery of international importance which stunningly illuminates the rich and complex world of the so-called Dark Ages."
Preliminary work suggests that the king was buried early in the 7th century. The body had been placed in a wood-lined chamber, surrounded by valuable possessions. These included bronze cauldrons and flagons, a sword, a shield and drinking vessels.
There were also signs that the king was an early Christian. Ian Blair, who carried out the work for the Museum of London Archaeology Service, said: "Two foil crosses, probably originally laid on the body or sewn to a shroud, suggest that the king had converted from paganism to Christianity.
"Originally, the wooden tomb chamber was covered by a shallow mound but this collapsed into the chamber sealing all of the objects in place."
The remains will go on display from today at the Museum of London.
Howard Briggs, the leader of Southend-on-Sea borough council, described the chamber as an amazing find. "It's hard to believe that for hundreds of years a king has been laying in Southend, untouched by all of the things going on around him," he said.
Saeberht, who is thought to have reigned between 603 and 616, became the first Christian king of Essex and appointed a Christian bishop. But, despite his enthusiasm for the new religion, much of his kingdom, including his family, reverted back to paganism after his death.
URL: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml;$sessionid$YF2YSRKP3B53XQFIQMGSFFWAVCBQWIV0?xml=/news/2004/02/05/nsaeb05.xml&sSheet=/news/2004/02/05/ixhome.html
King Saeberht is also credited with building the earliest foundations of Westminster Abbey.
Steve, taking that Saeberht name and running with it, located a reference to a very old standard (family crests and coats of arms were not in existance at the time) which has been connected with Saeberht. (I can't give you that reference, either - Steve is currently vacationing in Southern California, and has none of his notes with him). When he saw the standard, he nearly fell down in surprise:
Three seaxe's - (the Saxon predecessor of a sword) - with gold pommels, in a vertical row, against a red background.
The County of Essex currently uses a variation of that standard - very recently adopted - that reportedly has been based in part on the Saeberht standard. The standard he saw is reported to have been dated back to the mid 7th century - 650 A.D. or so. The seaxe's in this case face in the opposite direction than the three Chute swords - in heraldic terms, the seaxe versions has points to the sinister (right), the Chute version has points to the dexter (left). Both are fitted with gold pommels, are arranged in a vertical row of three, and are against a red background.
"There is a certain amount of mystery as to why Essex adopted three seaxes for its arms, but they were in use in forms similar to the official grant long before it was made. It has been suggested by some writers, that the weapons were chosen as a pun on the name of the County, which was called 'Eastseaxe' in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. Although three seaxes on a red field are often quoted as the arms of the of the kings of the East Saxons, heraldry as we know it was not established until the early twelfth century, and it is probably due to the fanciful and romantic minds of early historians and heraldic writers in the late sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries that 'arms' were attributed to the Saxon kings.However badges and emblems have been used by nations, sovereigns and chieftains from earliest times, and perhaps the 'arms' attributed to the Saxon kings by the medieval heralds were based upon some of these badges. The earliest reference the arms of the East Saxon kings was by Richard Verstegan, the author of A Restitution of Decayed Intelligence, printed in Antwerp in 1605. Verstegan gives no authority for his statement "Erkenwyne king of the East-Saxons did beare for his armes, three [seaxes] argent, in a field gules", but there is no reason to doubt that he believed his source was reliable. John Speed in his Historie of Great Britaine (1611), also gives similar arms for Erkenwyne, but he seems to have doubts and his statement is qualified with the statement "as some or our heralds have emblazed".
Note: The Essex Crest (pictured, left) is NOT the original emblem associated with Saeberht - it was designed and issued very recently. However, it is based on the earlier badge or emblem, which, based on its description, would have looked similar to this example.
According to Steve's recap of Robert's research, Edward was apparently at the helm of a very powerful ship-building and sea-faring family, and had at least three brothers. Although Saxon, it is noteworthy that he was quite at home in both Briton and France, and was trusted and respected by the powerful ruling families of Normandy, including the Duke of Mortain (who you'll recall he represented at a conclave prior to the Normandy Invasion) and William the Conquerer himself, who placed him at the helm of a large fleet during the Invasion. This strongly suggests that Edward Chute/Saeberht had the skill and experience necessary to act as an accepted emissary between powerful, noble families - not a skill a commoner would have. He would have had wealth, and respectability, in his own right.
Bringing us back to the "Saeberht" name. Did he travel in such powerful circles because he had similar, albeit Saxon, background? Was he an adjunct of the Saeberht family, or a direct descendant?
But why the name "Chute"? Where did that name come from? One can only assume that the name "Chute" survived the Norman Invasion and the name "Saeberht" did not simply because the family would have wanted to be affiliated with the victorious Normans after the Invasion, not the defeated Saxons. But did Edward's family emblem survive nonetheless, in the strikingly similar images of three swords placed in a vertical row against a red background? Is there a connection between the standard or emblem of three seaxe's, and the Chute coat of arms?
Curiouser and curiouser. More information to follow ....
The following files have been updated:
Ronald George Densmore and Beth MacPhee Densmore.Wilson Chute and Susan McIntosh ("Susie") Farquhar Chute.
George Zwicker and Marion Estella Chute Zwicker.
Harvey Franklin Chute and Dorothy Gisella Trettau Chute.
James Chute III and Mary Ann Hoyt Chute. This change reflects updated information on son Edward Payson Chute (formerly known only as Edward Chute), who was captured during the Civil War and died shortly after his return home. Data on his unit was included in his notes.
George Albert Pope, Sr. and Evelyn Olivia Chute Pope.
The following files have been updated:
Fillmore Chute and Winifred Brown Chute.James Edward ("Jimmy") Brown and Adelaide Calder Brown.
Millard Filmore Chute and Idella ("Ida") Randolph Chute.
Jeremiah Jordan and Ruth Chute Jordan. This eliminates the "Almira Chute, daughter of Jeremiah Chute and wife Ruth, married George Babb" entry. The correct entry is Almira Jordan, daughter of Jeremiah Jordan and Ruth Chute Jordan, marrying George Babb.
William Loring Chute and Marjorie Rose Trimble Chute. Daughter Leslie Elizabeth (Chute) Rose (see previous entry) submitted the Chute Family data worksheet on her family - thanks, Leslie!
James Edward Chute and Helen McLeish or McCleish Chute
Andrew McLeish or McCleish, Jr. and Mary Jane Franklin McCleish
Andrew McLeish or McCleish, Sr. and Phoebe Montross McCleish.
Ezekiel Chute and Elizabeth McConnell Chute.
James Edward Chute and Bessie Ellen Hinckley Chute.
Silas Chute and Mary Roach Chute.
Isaac Roach Chute and Edith Churchill Chute.
Thomas Churchill and Mary Harris Churchill.
The family records for Willard Rose and Margaret ("Maggie") Maude Chute Rose have been updated. Note that Willard's last name has been corrected from "Ross" to "Rose". In the same family: Carl Dana Skillin and Viola May Rose Skillin.
And speaking of Rose's, Leslie Elizabeth (Chute) Rose checked in, to update her records - she has also married into the Rose family, making her a distant relative of her own distant relatives!
Eddie Chute has found more information on Mary E. Scanlon and Edward Francis Chute, which has been added to the records - thanks, Eddie!
Rob Garland sent in a Gedcom with a treasure trove of data on the Harvey Israel Chute family line - Harvey's son Raymond Harvey Chute has three more daughters that had not been recorded, and the entire families of his grandsons Joel Harvey Chute, Bartt Allan Chute and Carson Dean Chute have been added. In fact, Carson Dean Chute had not yet been born when Harvey Israel Chute himself last updated their records.
Rob is the husband of Harvey's great-granddaughter Andrea Lorelle Chute. The bulk of the Chute data has been added, but I'm still working on Allied family data and some of his source information. There are some family members still unaccounted for, but Rob is still working on his records, so more information may still be coming in, on this branch.
The records for Dorothy Melissa Chute Cook and Harold Lee Chute have also been updated. The sources for the former was an obituary; the latter an e-mail from an individual who I presume is his son Robert Lee Chute ...? If I'm wrong, please correct me!
Those who monitor the message board saw that we received a message from Paul Leslie Chute, son of Peter Chute who was born 1924 in London, and grandson of George Chute. Realizing that this is one of the Chute family branches who had managed to fall through just about every available data recording crack there was, we're hoping for a lot more information from Paul - thanks, Paul!
Thanks to a posting on another message board, I've realized that the George Chute who emigrated to Shewsbury, New Jersey at the same time that Lionel was emigrating to Massachusetts was the same George Chute who married Elizabeth Gilbert - and may be the same George who also fathered a daughter named Elizabeth. That George is of the Bridgewater Chutes ... further information on that branch may also be traceable through the Gilberts or the Slocums.
The following family records have been updated:
Donald Hartley Densmore and Alma Louise Chute Densmore
Gordon Clarence Cook and Dorothy Melissa Chute (Cook) Smith
Other Additions to the Web Site:
2001
24 Mar 2001 through 26 July 2001
26 July 2001 through 31 December 2001
2002
3 February 2002 through 26 April 2002
1 May 2002 through 29 July 2002
10 August 2002 through 27 October 2002
2 November 2002 through 28 December 2002
2003
10 Jan 2003 through 15 Feb 2003
2 Mar 2003 through 28 Sep 2003
28 Sep 2003 through 31 Dec 2003
2004
2005
2005
2005
INDEX
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