[Illustration] The ancestors of this ancient house were seated at
Horham in Suffolk in the 13th century, "knights of high esteem in
those parts," saith Camden, and traced to Sir Hubert Jernegan of
that place. Somerleyton, in the same county, derived from the
heiress of Fitzosbert, afterwards became the family seat, and so
continued until the extinction of the elder line. Cossey was granted
to Sir Henry Jerningham, (son of Sir Edward Jerningham, by his
second wife,) in 1547, by Queen Mary, "being the first that appeared
openly for her after the death of Edward VI." He was the ancestor of
Lord Stafford.
See Weever's Ancient Funerall Monuments, p. 769; Blomefield's
Norfolk, i. p. 660; Wotton's Baronetage, i. 450; and Suckling's
History of Suffolk, ii. p. 46.
ARMS.--_Argent, three buckles gules_.
Present Representative, Henry Valentine Stafford Jerningham, 9th
Baron Stafford.
TOWNSHEND OF RAINHAM, MARQUESS TOWNSHEND 1787; BARON 1661; VISCOUNT
1682.
[Illustration] In 1377, the ancestor of this family was of Snoring
Magna in this county. In 1398, John Townshend settled at Rainham,
which according to some accounts accrued to them by the heiress of
Havile, but the pedigree as given by Collins cannot be relied on,
neither can the defamatory account of Leland, who says--"the
grandfather of Townsende now living was a meane man of substance."
The truth seems to be that the family is old, but not of great
account before the time of Sir Walter de Townsend, who married Maud
Scogan, and flourished about the year 1400.
See Blomefield, iii. 815; Brydges's Collins, ii. 454; and Leland's
Itinerary, iv. p. 13.
ARMS.--_Azure, a chevron ermine between three escallops argent_.
Present Representative, John Villiers Stuart Townshend, 5th Marquess
Townshend.