Coat of Arms

Every map online seems to have the border in a different place but I assume that at the time there was a lot of fighting over border lands. This map shows that Mercia covered a large area of the centre of the country and would have included Bolton

Thank you very much for the reference to Fisher and similar coat of arms. Very interesting. Sounds very likely a distant connection. Sorry for the delay in replying. Mike

Thank you Anne, This Charlotte is definitely James Hampson's daughter. I am hoping that the iron manufacturer is not the same James Hampson! But you never know. He did have Manchester connections with family. Apologies for the delay in replying. Thanks again. Mike

Helen. I am most grateful for your research. I think there may be a link there somewhere. I will just need to go back further in the tree if I can. You have given me some hope. Kind regards Mike

Hi Mike. I think that the Fisher link is dodgy. While the chevron in the book looks black, on closer inspection it has the markings for vair not sable as in the Fisher wiki page. I know a little more about heraldry than 2016 and I think that the crown with the 4 pearls might signify a baronet rather than an Earl. The shield shape indicates it might be 15th century (1600s). There are be a number of possibilities - Baronets link to Coventry Thomas Norton made a Baronet in 1661 looks like a possibility, although there is no coat of arms for him. It became extinct in 1691, which might explain why it isn't recorded.

George Coventry, 6th Earl of Coventry, known as Viscount Deerhurst. Tall, handsome, elegant - made him a favourite with the ladies. From a young age he had acquired the taste for ladies, horse racing and cards. He then eloped and married. His father, outraged at his son's behaviour and embarrassment, banned him from the ancestral home. Further to his anguish and finance, his new wife died in childbirth. His friend, Sir Richard Worsley, was newly married, and invited him to stay at their home on the Isle of Wight. But Sir Richard was unusual - he encouraged Deerhurst to spy on his wife when naked taking a bath. He also encouraged him to make sexual advances to her. Deerhurst became her lover while Sir Richard spied through a keyhole. Years later, in sympathy, he became a witness for her when Sir Richard tried to ruin her and another of her lovers, when she counter-claimed her husband had ignored her for three months when they wed, then threw her in the arms of other men. From then on it became the most scandalous case - 'Lady Worsley' - in history, Meanwhile Deerhurst had a very nasty riding accident that damaged his face and had him wearing a green silk left eye patch. When his father died he became George Coventry, Earl of Coventry.

The 7th Earl of Coventry to be, the ancestral home was Croome Court in Worcestershire and he regularly visited Lord and Lady Craven at Coombe Abbey, Coventry But the privileged class since birth had been trained to be blind to staff or workers, they only saw people of social standing, when visiting. The average daily wage for a farm worker in the late 18th century was approx 17d (with 240d to £1), that meant 14 men working from dawn to dusk would cost a Earl or Baron £1, but the trousseau with all the jewellery for a lady's wedding could cost £5,000-£7,000, even in those days. The person who may have earned a little more was possibly the groom of a post-chaise. Tradition had it he would drive a team from astride the lead horse, a very dangerous game - should a strap break or a wheel shatter from a stone then he would most likely be thrown under the flashing hooves. But life was cheap and short.

Coventry Corporation Seals ^{(Source: Samuel Lewis' Topographical Dictionary of England 1859, Vol. 1)} Believe Roman Numeral on new seal reads: '1836' and the new seal also reads 'The Mayor, Aldermen and Burgesses of the City Of Coventry' (?)

The old seal includes the feathers of the Black Prince and spells Coventry - Couentrie. Interesting.