PROCTOR FAMILY COAT of ARMS
This was officially recorded in the ancient hearldic archives and can be found in the " Riestap Armorial
General". It is described as a silver shield divided by a black chevron and accompanied by three black
martins.
The cheveron denotes those fanilys that came to England with "William the Conqueror" in 1065 from
ormandy, France.
The martins have no feet which indicates those sons who owned no lands and forced to obtain their
posessions by the sword.
The crest is described as a naturally colored greyhound, collard silver, sitting on a green mound. The motto
recorded with the Coat of Arms is "TOUJOURS FIDELE" or always faithful. Family mottos are believed to
have originated as battle cries in medieval times.
WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR
The Proctor family Coat of Arms is divided by a cheveron. This symbol is used to indicate those
families that came from France with William the Conqueror in 1066 to England. .
In 1042, Edward (the Confessor) was the King of England and his second cousin, William of Normandy
,(later known as William the Conqueror) came to England from France and was promised the succession
to the Crown upon Edwards death.
Edward The Confessor died in January of 1066 after commending the kingdom to Harold (son of Earl
Godwine of Wessex). Harold had already proved his capacity as a war-leader and he also had the personal
loyalty of at least half the English, and Harold was crowned as King the next day in Westminrster Abby.
When William of Normandy heard that Harold had been made King instead of himself, he lost no time in
setting the shipwrights and armourers to build and equip an invasion fleet. He sent out agents to attract
soldiers of fortune from all over northern France with promises to pay them with land and plunder. He could
not strike at once , for six months at least were needed to build sufficient vessels During the summer of 1066
a great gathering of men and materials assembled around St. Valery, at the mouth of the Somme. Ships had
been built in all the French ports from the spring onwards, and by the beginning of August nearly seven
hundred vessels and about seven thousand men, of whom the majority were persons of rank and quality,
were ready to follow Edward and share the lands and wealth of England.
But the winds were contrary. For six weeks there was no day when the south wind blew. The next day
the wind changd to the south-west and the entire fleet put to sea.
On Sept. 28 the fleet lamded at Pevensey Bay, England. Harold was in Yorkshire when he heard of
William's landing and immediatly started south. They covered the two hundred miles in seven days.
Remaining in London only five days to gather all the forces he could, Harold marched on toward Pevensey,
and took up his position on a hill near Hastings. The English army may have numbered some 6,000 or 7,000
men, and William's was probably smaller. By nightfall the battle was over and Harold and two of his brothers
were dead. After a few days rest, William moved on to London. He did not, however trust his army to
Harolds direct route through the woods and thickets of the Weald forest where it could be easily ambushed
as it trailed along the narrow track. Instead he skirted along the coast to Romney and thence to Dover, where
he spent a week erecting an earthwork castle.
From Dover the old Roman road ran straight across the open uplands of chalk to Canterbury, and thence
to London.
Illness delayed him for sometime at Canterbury, and then he pushed on to the capital. Not until he was within
reach of London Bridge was any resistance offered. He was unable to capture the London bridge and
retaliated by burning Southwark and then ravaging a wide belt of country along the south of the Thames until he found a
suitable crossing at Wallingford. He then continued to Little Berkhamstead, clearly intending to isolate and
tarve London into surrender.
William was crowned in Westminster Abby on Christmas Day. He immediatly becan to build a castle
probably on the site of where he later built the Tower of London.
The North still remained under its Saxon Lords, Edwin and Mocar, unsubdued and defiant. The King
gathered an army and marched north, building a chain of fortifications, St. Albans, Lincoln, York and
Durham. And by 1070, most of England had been subdued by William.
The great majority of the land in England was now held from the king by military service. This land was
then distributed under an arrangement called the "Feudal System". The basic principle was that all land was
held in return for some sort of service. The king kept part of the land and distributed the rest to the Barons.
The Barons in turn kept part of the land and distributed the balance to their Knights and the Knights did
the same giving part of their land to their Villeins or soldiers and aids. At each step there were payments to
the immediate overloard for taking up an inheritance and the overlord had the right to take the profits of an
estate while the heir was a minor and to find a husband for an heiress or widow.
See map of William's route
It is impossiable to suppose that the vast armies of Danes or Normans who overran England and France in
the ninth century were composed entirely of nobels and princes. It is obvious that the numbers of the latter
must have been small, and that the masses of these armies consisted of private soldiers. The thirty or forty
thousand Northmen who in A.D. 866 besieged Paris, must have consisted of common soldiers as well as
captains and generals.
The Norman army was composed of a large section of the Scandinavian nation and was continually
reinforced by fresh migrations of Scandinavians from Denmark and the North, and Neustria or Normandy
became the abode of a great Scandinavian people, the Normans or Northman of history.
It is probable that this nation may have amounted to nearly a million people at the time of the Norman
Conquest. The Norman state was so ably administrated, and was inhabited by a race of such vitality and
energy, that it became developed with extraordinary rapidity. Its population expanded so rapidly that
i t was no longer sufficient to maintain such multitudes.. The population was probably twice as dense as
the population of England at the same epoch. The outlet so necessary for Normandy was found in the
conquest of England.
England then was settled by all classes of Normans, high, low, and not merely by an aristocracy.
The aristocracy did migrate to England, and so completely that ultimately the whole Norman nobility became
English, and very few relics of it remained to later times in Normandy itself
.
ORIGIN OF THE NAME PROCTOR
The name "proctor" comes from the latin Procurator. which meant an official who was appointed to take
care of something involving human affairs. The important part of the word is "cura". which is care, and this
is the part that has been dropped.
In the middle ages when the church was not only a spiratual support and a santuary, but also a political force
to be delt with, a large part of the judicial function of the government was carried on in the Ecclesiastical
Courts. This required the services of ecclesastical lawyer who came to be called Procurators.
Following is a list of some of the earliest known appearences of the name Procurator or Proctor, with the
year and the documents where they were found.
Thomas le Procuratour, --County of Lincolnshire
Hundred Rolls, 1273
John le Procuratour of Lincolnshire.
William le Procuratour,--Northumberland
Assize Rolls 1279
Johanna la Proketour.
Yorkshire Subsidy Rolls.
John Proketour,--Durham, Feodarum Prioratus
Dunelmensis, 1326
Williamus Proktour,--West Riding, Yorkshire
Poll Tax 1379
It was not until this time that surnames became commonly used. In the case of Proctor, like Carpenter, Miller,
Fisher, etc. it was used first mearlu as an identification through one's occupation, and later as a surname in the
modern sense when the "le" or "la" was dropped.
The influence of the French language was still strongly apparent as a result of the Norman Conquest over
two hundred years earlier.
GEOFFERY PROCTOR
OF NORTHUMBERLAND
One of the earliest Proctor located so far is found in the "History Of Northumberland"
Geoffery Proctor bas born about 1450 in Nether Bordley, Craven, Yorkshire, England and died in 1525.
He married first to Katherine (unknown) who was named in a deed with Geoffery in 1506. He married
secondly to Margaret (unknown)
They had four children, , Richard, Henry, William and Robert.
William married Isabel Lilburn in December 1500. She was the daughter of John Lilburn of West Lilburn who also owned the manors of Shawdon, Glanton and Bedford, all of which were located in Northumberland. (see note 1)
Roddam township was raided by the Scots in 1533 and the Roddam family moved in with the Proctors of Shawdon, as a lady of the
Proctor family , either Elizabeth or Margaret married Cuthbert Proctor, son of William and Isabel.
On 18 Jan. 19 Henry VII, Geoffery Proctor executed a bond to preform covenets of marriage of his son
Robert with Joannet, daughter of Thomas Hagthorpe.
Robert and Joanett had four children, three boys and a girl. One of these was Richard. who married
(unknown) and had two male children, one named Richard Jr. who married Alys Boldsworth, and another
named George.
George married (unknown) and they had two children. George Jr. of Langley Park, Norfolk and William of
Epsom, Surrey.
William married (unknown) and had a daughter named Ann.
Ann Proctor married Thomas Beauchamp son of Ephriam Beauchamp and Letitia Coppin about 1691.
Thus combining the Proctor family with the celebrated Beauchamp family. (see combined coat of arms above)
Ann and Thomas had a son named William Beauchamp. baptized 11 May 1722.
William assumed the surname and arms of PROCTOR, in addition to those of his paternal family, by an act of
parliment 18 George II in compliance with the testamentary injunction of his maternal uncle, George Proctor,
Esq. of Langley Park, Norfolk. Therefor becomming William Beauchamp-Proctor.
NOTE--
The 4th son of Sir Thomas William Bograve Proctor-Beauchamp. 4th Bart., DL for Norfolk, assumed by
Royal Licence, July 9, 1852 the surname of Proctor-Beauchamp in that sequence instead of
Beauchamp-Proctor
. The image on the right at the start of this page is the combined Proctor-Beauchamp arms
The same branch of this family is represented about the middle of the 16th century by one Thomas
Proctor, who was the father of a son named Henry, who married Margaret Gascoign and had a son
Henry Jr.
Henry Jr. married Ann Fawkes and had a son Francis. He married Elizabeth Metcalf and they had a son
named Metcalf.
It is from these two lines that the early emmigrants of the name PROCTOR were descended.
Yet another branch is believed to be represented about the beginning of the 20th century by one George
or Groge Proctor who married Sarah Owen of Yorkshire and was the father by her of a son named George
Jr. who was the father of William and Frances. These were contempories of John Proctor of London and the
father of the John Proctor of Paces Pains, VA.
John Proctor of Virginia
from Virginia Gleanings in England
John Proctor was born abt. 1583 in London, England. He boarded the ship Seaventure in London in
1607, thirteen years before the Mayflower, voyage. He landed in Virginia City, Virginia. He did not
undertake the voyage for reasons of poverty as so many did. as his wife, Alice or Allis followed him followed
him to Virginia accompanied by a servant and ample posessions to earn the title of "Gentlewoman".
John and his wife settled on the Pace plantation called Paces Pains in a large typical 18ty century house.
In March of 1622 the Quinoughcohannock indians conducted the first large scale attact upon the English
settlers in the Colonys-the Great Massacre of 1622. It is thiught that John was in England at the time of the
massacre as it is recorded that "Mistress Proctor" a proper' civil and modest gentlewoman held out against the
Indians until the English officers forced her to leave the house for her own safety. The Indians then burned
the house. Of an estimated 1244 settlers, 334 of them were slaughtered and the first section of the colony was
abandoned.
After the loss of their home, the Proctors moved to Surry County near Jamestown on the James River.
John Proctor received a patent for land from the Virginia Company in July of 1623. and received 100 acres in
Henrico on the James River in 1626.
John died in 1624 and his will mentions his brother Thomas, a haberdasher in London.
There is evidence that John and Alice had 5-7 children.<34>
NOTES
NOTE-1
EMBLETON PARISH, Northumberland
The Proctor family, originally settled in Nether Bordley,
Yorkshire, was established at Shawdon in 1506 through the marriage of
William Proctor of Nether Bordley to Isabel, daughter of John Lilburn
of Shawdon.
John Proctor who exchanged Shawdon for the Dunstan estate,
married twice. Thomas Proctor, the eldest son of the first marriage,
became ultimately the owner of Rock, whilst John Proctor, the second
son of the second marriage, succeeded under his fathers will to the
land at Dunstan.
The old tower, formerly known as Dunstan Hall,
received from its new owners the name Proctor's Stead, by which it is
generally known. But though the name of the Proctors remains
associated with the place, the family did not retain the property for
any great length of time. John Proctor, son of John Proctor and
Elizabeth Ion, sold his land at Dunstan in 1778 to Daniel Craster for
7,700 pounds. In this way the old estate of the Wetwangs was added to
that part of Dunstan which from ancient times had been the property of
the Craster family. The boundries of Dunstan belonging to John
Proctor were surveyed in 1724 and showed the "west farm" containing
359 acres, another farm containing 219 acres for a total of 578 acres.
DUNSTAN HALL or PROCTORS STEAD
By H.L. Honeyman
Published by Society of Antiquities
Newcastle-upon-Tyne
Near the hamlet of Dunstan,Northumberland, England, is a
group of connected buildings called Dunstan Hall. In 1705
John Proctor of Shawdon, exchanged the Manor of Shawdon for
Dunstan Hall and renamed it Proctors Steads. The oldest part
is an ancient pele or watchtower in advance of Dunstanburg
Castle. It was constructed in 1295 and is 18 foot by 14 foot
on the outside and consists of four stages of construction.
The first story belongs to a very early period of the type
of construction used by the Saxtons.The walls in this part
are solid stone four feet in thickness and the vaulted
ceiling is aproxamatley 10 feet high and is built entirely
of basalt stone. The superstructure is built of freestone
and the work indicates that it was erected about the same
time as Dunstanburg Castle.
Reyner,the 1st Dunstan, lived early in the reign of Henry
III. His son Michael held 1/3 of land in 1298. Dunstan was
burned by the Scots and Richard Wetwang, a Yorkshireman,
aquired part of the township of Dunstan. Proctorsteads is
the site of the home of the Dunstans. After Michael Reyner's
death, his son allowed Richard Wetwang to take over the
house and adjacent land. It seems likely that it was he who
rebuilt the house in stone, circa 1310. By 1359 a quarter of
the township belonged to Richard Wetwang.
The Wetwangs continued to flourish, another Richard, who
married an heierss, was made receiver of the Lordship of
Dunstanburg in 1417, and either he or his son Edward, who
was constable of Dunstanburg, in 1440 made good the damage
done by the Scots when they again burned Dunstan in 1385.
The house may have lain in ruins for some time, at any
rate , the south front was beyond repair, and was taken down
to ground level and rebuilt with the old Ashlar stone
immediatly within its former line. The base of the turret is
of a very remote period, and one part is similar to the work
done in Saxton times. The date of the next reconstruction of
Dunstan is uncertain, but it was probably not before the
reign of Henry VIII nor later than James I.
In 1598, Dunstan Hall was for the first time named. It
was then the home of Henry Wetwang and in 1603, Richard
Wetwang was fined for taking a sub tenent into Dunstan.
Joshua Wetwang, who succeeded to Dunstan before 1657, seems
to have been a brother to Capt. Sir John Wetwang, the Terror
of the Dutch, who was master of Trinity House in Newcastle
in 1677.
Joshua did further restoration to Dunstan. The second
floor of the tower was cut down and given a sloping roof
which presents a curious appearance. The restoration that
was done by the Stuarts was not favorable to the Wetwangs
and Joshua's heir sold Dunstan in 1692 for 1,000 pounds to
Alexander Browne, who in 1705 gave it to John Proctor of
Shawdon and Crawley in exchange for these two properties.
The Proctors were like the Wetwangs, of Yorkshire origin,
though long settled in Northumberland and at Shawdon since
1506. John Proctor lost no time in going on with the
reconstruction of Dunstan Hall. Over the lintel of the
doorway are carved the initials "J.P.".
John's grandson, John Proctor III sold the property in 1778 to
Daniel Craster for 7,700 pounds.
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One of the early records of the Proctor family in England is found in Downton Parish,Wiltshire. The town of Salisbury was the county seat of Wiltshire. The Proctor family there were a family of such influence and importance as to have been represented in Parliment in 1747 by the Honorable George Proctor.
(fron The Founders of the Mass Bay Colony)
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ENGLISH ESTATES OF THE PROCTOR FAMILY
LANGLEY PARK
On river Yare 10 miles SE of Norwich county of Durham. in
the county of Norfolk, near the small town of Loddon, about
10 mies S E from Norwich. This noble mansion is the home of
Sir William Beauchamp Proctor, Bart., a vice admiral in the
royal navy. It was commenced in 1720 for Mr. Recorder
Berney, who before it was completed, sold the property to
George Proctor Esq., and he, dying in 1744, bequeathed it,
with a considerable estate, to his nephew, William
Beauchamp, Esq, who in memory of his uncle.and with Royal
permission, changed his name to Sir William Beauchamp
Proctor, Bart., and Knight Companion of the Bath. By him the
mansion was much enlarged and beautified, and, upon his
death in 1773, he was succeeded by his son, Sir Thomas
Beauchamp Proctor, who died in 1827. The estate then
devolved to Sir William, son of the last named baronet.
Langly Hall is a magnificient structure, the center or
main building is in five divisions with a portico of the
Doric order, but the two original wings have been pulled
down and rebuilt by Sir William, who has likewise added much
to the comfort and convenience of the mansion. Few English
country seats are richer than Langly Park in works of art,
of the very finest order. We have only to name Michael
Angelo, Salvator Rosa, Nicholas Berghem, Canaletti,
Vandervelde, Andre del Sarta, Wonverman, Teniers, Vandyke,
Leonardo di Vinci, Claude, Albert Durer, the two Poussins,
Murillo, Cornelins, Jansen; besided these, numerous
antiques, and many paintings of the best English Masters,
such as Gainsborough, Wilson, and Sir Joshua Reynolds.
The park possesses an agreeable variety of surface, and is
covered with extensive plantations and fine timber. One part
in particular deserves notice, being a walk from the east
door to the church, through a shrubbery and pleasure-ground
that are kept in excellant order.
MANOR OF TOTTENHAM
Durham, in the Auckland District.
George Beauchamp Proctor held the Manor of Tottenham by a
bequest from his father, Sir William Beauchamp Proctor.
William De Beauchamp (died 1375) held the Manor of
Tottenham by virtue of a grant from his cousin John, Earl of
Pembroke. ( John was the son of Williams mothers sister).
Upon the death of William, the manor went to his sons,
George and Ephraim.
John, Richard, George and Robert Proctor all settled in
Mass. between 1635 and 1643. They were descendents of Sir
William Beauchamp Proctor and were probably brothers or at
least closely related.
LAUKLAND or LANKLAND HALL
Yorkshire
Owned by John Proctor in 1516 to 1602.
In the cemetary next to the parish church of ST. O'Lard in
the city of York, England is an early record of the Proctor
Family in the following inscription on a monument-
Here Lyeth The Body Of
Ivan Farley
Wife of Fabien Farley,
And Daughter of John Proctor
of Lankland Hall
Who Died At The Age Of 86 Years
1602
LONGLEY HALL-- In Almondsbury, County of York
Owned by Ramsden Proctor in 1531.
LANGLEY CASTLE-- Town of Allendale- Northumberland WSW
of Newcastle on Tyne on East Allen River. (Photo in
Romance of Northumberland p-254 U of R)
Nether Bordley
West Riding of Yorkshire.
East of Grassington
Property owned by Geoffery Proctor in 1456 and William
Proctor in 1480
Wiltshire
Downton County of Wilts 7 miles S E of Salisbury W of
London.
TREWICK
7 miles S W of Morpeth.
Henry Proctor and his son Henry Jr., aquired control in
1300 of the family estate of Trewick (Bolam Parish) Henry
Jr. was then known as Henry of Trewick and he died in 1328.
His son,John b.1318 d.1361 had a son, Thomas b.1331 d.1399.
Thomas had a daughter, Eleanore, b.1375 d.1423 who married
John Hogisson and they had a son, John b.1394 who took the
name of John of Trewick. He was still living there in 1448.
THORP ON THE HILL
Rothwell Parish, County of York
West Ridding
4 miles SW of Leeds
This was owned by Francis Proctor, born 1680, the son of
Henry Proctor Jr. and Ann Fawkes. Grandson of Henry Proctor
of Newhall. Francis married Elizabeth Metcalf and they had a
son Metcalf Proctor, born 1720. Metcalf married Francis
Kirby and they had a daughter Elizabeth and a son Francis
who married Sarah Endicott in 1797.
Thomas
Henry-Margaret Gascoygne
\
Henry Jr.-Ann Fawkes
\
Francis-Elizabeth Metcalf
\
Metcalf-Francis Kirby
\-----------------\
Elizabeth Francis-Sarah
Endicot
Descendants of Evan PROCTOR (MY basic line)
Evan Proctor was born in 1546 in St. Albans, Herts.,England which is about 15 miles north of London.
there is no date of Evan's death.
He was married to Mary ???? in 1569. Mary was born abt. 1550 in St. Albans. She was buried on 12 Nov
1550 in St. Albans. They had a child Robert Proctor.
SECOND GENERATION
Robert Proctor was born 25 Nov. 1571 in St. Albans. He was buried on 26 Sep. 1647.
He married Sarah FLETCHER on 16 Jan. 1614 in St. Albans. Sarah was born in 1596 in St Albans and was
christaned also in St. Albans.
Robert and Sarah had a child Robert Jr
.
THIRD GENERATION
Robert Jr. was christened on 25 Apr. 1624 in St. Albans. He died on 28 April 1697 in Chelmsford,
Middlesex, MA.
In 1635 the ship "Planter" brought a number of the founders of New England from Hertfordshire,
including Robert Jr. PROCTOR, ehere he first appeared in Concord, MA.
He married Jane HILDRETH on Oct.31 1645 in Concord, Middlesex, MA.
Robert Jr. and Jane had a child James.
FOURTH GENERATION
James PROCTOR was born in 1658 in Chelmsford, MA. He married Esther PARKER (wife1) on Dec 3
1691 in MA. Ester PARKER died onDec. 1693.
James and Esther had a child James PROCTOR Jr
.
FIFTH GENERATION
James PROCTOR Jr. was born on 2 April 1696 in Woburn, MA. He died on 19 April 1777. He married
to Judith NICHOLS on 17 April 1717 in Reading, Middlesex, MA. Judith NICHOLS was born on 2 Sep. 1688
in Reading and she died on 21 April 1783.
James and Judith had a son James PROCTIR III.
SIXTH GENERATION
James PROCTOR III was born on 18 June 1722 in Woburn, MA. He died on 11 Nov. 1812 in Andover, MA. He was a Revolutionary War soldier and died on his way home from the army.
He married Abigail WHITMORE in 1743. Abigail was born on 7 June 1722 in Woburn, MA. She died 3 May 1812 in Andover, MA
James III and Abigail had a son Thomas PROCTOR.
SEVENTH GENERATION
Thomas PROCTOR was born on 28 July 1748 in Woburn, MA, He died on 1 June 1830.
Thomas married Fanny KIMBALL on 21 May 1776. Fanny KIMBALL was born on 2 Feb. 1756. She died on 1 June 1830.
Thomas PROCTOR and Fanny KIMBALL had a son Joseph.
EIGHTH GENERATION
Joseph PROCTOR was born on 31 Dec. 1790 in London, NH. He died on 14 Aug. 1867.
Thomas married Betsey SHAW on Feb. 1815. Betsey SHAW was born 17 Aug. 1798 in Pittsfield, NH. She died 26 Aug. 1874.
Thomas and Betsey SHAW had a son John Shaw PROCTOR.
NINTH GENERATION
John Shaw PROCTOR was born on June 10 1816 in New Sharonn, ME. He died on 30 Jan. 1888 in Cadmus. KS.
He was married to Adelia KEMPTON on 6 May 1845. Adelia KEMPTON was born on 21 Jan. 1821 in Croydon, NH.
John Shaw and Adelia had a son John Calvin PROCTOR.
TENTH GENERATION,/h2>
John Calvin PROCTOR was born on 21 April, 1851 in Lowell, MA. He died on 14 May 1929 in Madison, WI.
He married Emma Louise JONES on 21 June, 1883 in Madison, WI.
Emma Louise JONES was born 26 April 1862 in Lamoil, MN. She died on 24 Feb. 1931 in Madison, WI.
John Calvin and Emma Louise had a son John William PROCTOR.
ELEVENTH GENERATION
John William PROCTOR was born on 25 Sep. 1891 in Madison, WI. He died on 11 Aug. 1965 in Rochester, NY.
He was married to Esther SIMPSON on 6 June 1918. Esther SIMPSON was born 28 Aug. 1891.
John William and Esther had a son John William Jr.
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Note-2
Note-3
Note-4
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