[Illustration] Pre-eminent among the ancient aristocracy of
Shropshire is the House of Corbet, descended from "Roger, son of
Corbet," so called in the Domesday Survey. In the twelfth century
the Corbets divided into two branches; the elder was seated at
Wattlesborough, the younger at Caus-Castle. In the time of Henry
III. the former became of Moreton-Corbet, derived from the heiress
of the Anglo-Saxon family of Toret; but the Caus-Castle line was by
far the most eminent, and became barons of the realm. In the reign
of Richard II. several of the most ancient of the Corbet estates
were lost by an heiress; and this happened again in 1583, when the
lands brought into the family by the heiress of Hopton went by
marriage to the Wallops and Careys. Moreton-Corbet remained till
1688, when it also descended to the sister of Sir Vincent Corbet;
but the male line was still preserved by the Corbets of Shrewsbury,
and the ancient estate of Moreton-Corbet re-purchased about 1743.
Younger Branch. Corbett of Elsham (co. Lincoln) and of Darnhall
(co. Chester,) descended from Robert second son of Sir Vincent
Corbet, of Moreton-Corbet, who died in 1622.
Extinct Branches. 1. Corbet of Stoke and Adderley in this county,
Baronet 1627, sprung from Reginald third son of Sir Robert Corbet of
Moreton-Corbet; extinct 1780. 2. Corbet of Hadley in this county,
descended from the second marriage of Sir Roger Corbet of
Wattlesborough, who died temp. King John. The heiress married John
Greville, in the 7th Henry V. 3. Corbet of Longnor in this county,
and of Leighton, co. Montgomery, Baronet 1642, descended also from
John third son of Peter Corbet, Baron of Caus, and Alice Orreby;
extinct 1814. 4. Corbet of Sundorne, formerley of Leigh in this
county, descended from John third son of Peter Corbet, Baron of
Caus, and of Alice his wife, daughter of Sir Fulke de Orreby;
extinct 1859.
See Blakeway's Sheriffs of Shropshire, fol. Shrewsbury, 1831, pp.
37, 63, 65, 230, &c., corrected by the MSS. of the late Mr. Joseph
Morris of Shrewsbury;* see also Eyton's Antiquities of Shropshire,
vol. vii. p. 5; and Gent. Mag. for 1809, pp. 599, 903.
ARMS.--_Or, a raven proper_. The present coat, "_Or, un corbyn de
sable_," was borne by Sir Peter Corbet in the reign of Edward II.;
but Thomas Corbet, in that of Henry III., bore "_Or,_ 2 _corbeaux
sable_," which, with the addition of a bordure engrailed sable, is
the coat of the Corbets of Sundorne. _Or, three ravens in pale
proper_, was borne by Corbet of Hadley, and was so borne by Sir
Thomas Corbet in the reign of Edward II. (Rolls.)
Present Representative, Sir Vincent Rowland Corbet, 3rd Baronet.
* In future quoted as "Morris MSS."