The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-10-29

y
1895.
In giving articles on the colonial period
OF Virginia and OF the several noted fami-
lies during that exciting time of the So
called Rebellion we must bring for
ward ono Its most conspicuous families,
whose career has been most highly
praised, ms we'll as condemned. 1t Is
not proposed to give a history OF his
colonial acts MS Governor or The colony,
but to establish fully his claim to royalty
and high honor, which rightfully de-
scends to his present living descendants.
In this endeavor the editor of the Genoa
logical Column is indebted to Mr.. Charles
G. Berkeley, Of Newport News, Va, who
has. at much trouble Of searching valu-
able records. given the following most
interesting and minute record Of the fam
lily, and he Is particularly DESTROYS that
all descendants of the Berkeley family
now living will send their names to him,
rs there is something or interest for ench
one and that It should be done at once
In this first article, the arms nre given
of the first Berkelcys, whose seat was
IN Worcestershire, England. 1895. This
VIII be followed by the arms of the
BeVerstone branch of the family, from
which Sir William Berkeley descended
The name Berkeley comes from two
words--the Danish and old English word
"blrke. :" meaning birch Zone impress left
Oh England by the Danes). and the word
ley, LAY" ors'lea," meaning meadow;
n grassy f1nt:Apasture land; as a lay for
cattlc (see any standard encyclopedias
dictionary for these words.) These two
words were compounded into the word
"b!rkeley,"aEor the corruption of same,
Berkeley" meaning brch-meadow.
In the early days. when men had but
one name. such as John or Henry. they
were more specifically designated by the
places ut which they dwclt. such as John
of the birke-ley, finally contracted into
John Berkeley the name Of the place
being taken as the family name. And
thus, evidently came the Berkeley fam
lily name.
In Gloucestershre, England, near the
Ianks Of the Severn River, seventeen
and a half miles by rail southwest OF
Gloucester ana one hundred and one
miles west by north of London, In the
Vale of Berkeley" which consists OF
rich meadow pnsture-land. lies the an
cent town Of Berkeley, and. on m emil
ncnce to the southeast Is Berkeley Gas.
tic. built in the reign of Henry T., out
OF the ruins Of q nunnery which had
been in existence some time before the
Norman conquest. This castle IS to-day
one of the most perfect specimens OF
Norman style in Great Britain. In 1l62
Henry II. granted this castle to Robert
Fitzhardinge, with whose descendants It
has ever since continued they having
held the title of Baron Of Berkeley from
1853 and Earl and Viscount from 1879.
See Imperial Reference Library En-
cyclopaedla Dictionary and Atlas of the
World" Vol. T.; Chambers Encyclo-
paedin." Vol. H.; Encyclopaedia Brit
tanica," Vol. III. and "Lives OF the
covering tho period from 1866 TO 1918.
edited by Sir John Macean, In two vol
umes. in 1884 also. Berkeley Castle"
by George Charles Grantey Fitzhardinge
Berkeley, published 1896.
1t Is said that before the Norman
conquest of 1o66 the Berkeley family was
OF some Importance In Gloucestershire;
that they fought with Harold at HAST
ings. and for years afterwards resisted
William of Normandy. with the other
lords Of Western England, and during
the reign of Henry H. this castle was
in the possession of Evn Berkeley. all Of
the men who would have been entitled
to the castle having died and been kill
ed In the numerous wars and insurrec-
tons. up to 1862, when Robert FitZhard'
inge descendant Of Maurice Fitzhard-
inge knight who came to England
with William the Conqueror In 1865. mar
ricd Eva Berkeley, was granted Bcrke-
ley Castle by Henry II. (Englend then
being under the fueda SYSTEM, and
took the name of Berkeley from which
union came the present Berkeley fam.
lily. Thus 1t would be necessary to trace
back the lineage OF Maurice Fitzhard-
inge-to go beyond 1920 presumably
about the time he was born) for the
paternal side of this union. Eva. Berke-
ley's line no doubt ran back before tho
100, under the name OF Berkeley Trom
tho ancient origin of tho name), Thomas
Berkeley. eighth Lord or Baron Of Berke-
ley Castle, who was in the battle OF Polt-
Tors, 1864; In 1861 bought the ancient Castle
OF Bcverstonc, in Gloucestershlre. and
gave It to n younger son. whose de-
scendnnts lived there for eight genera
lions. In the latter part OF the SIX
teenth century this estate having be-
come much decaycd. in 1857. John Berke.
ley. Esq. then tho owner Of this estate,
and ut that time the head OF the Bever-
stone branch Of the Berkeley family,
and the eighth generation of same. sold
It. In 1918 he came to Virginia to sup
crlntend the iron works at Failing Greek,
IN Chesterfield county (about seven miles
south of Manchester. near where raining
Creek empties into James RIVER was
appointed II member OF the council un-
der Governor Yenrdley, and was killed
At Failing Creek BY the Indians N the
massacre Of 1922, He had ten children,
of whom the CONS were: !. Maurice: 2,
| Thomas: 3, William; 4, Henry and o.
| John.
! 1T Is not known whether any OF these
were killed In tho massacre OF 1879, pu'
at the time Maurice was In England, ano
afterwards came to Virginia with yleW
OF re- establishing tho iron works which
was never done. or Maurice nothing more
| Is known, except that he had charge Of
tho salt works for tho colony, and had q
son. Lieutenant Edward. or Edmund
Berkeley, who, with his tEdwards) wile
Jane. and daughter, Jane, were living n'
waving his flag in ono hand, firing his