[Illustration] The name is derived from Walcot in the parish of
Lydbury, which was held under the Bishop of Hereford by Roger de
Walcot in 1255. He was the ancestor of the present family. Sixth in
descent from Roger de Walcot was John Walcot, of whom the pedigree
relates, "that playing at Chess with King Henry V. he gave him the
check-mate with the rooke, whereupon the King changed his coat of
arms, which was the cross with fleurs-de-lis, and gave him the rooke
for a remembrance." Walcot was sold in the year 1764, and Bitterley,
which had belonged to the family in 1660, became the seat of the
Walcots, descended from Humphry Walcot, who died in 1616, and who
was the eldest son of John Walcot of Walcot. He had livery of the
manor of Walcot in 1611, "on the extinction (says Blakeway,) I
suppose of the elder line."
See Blakeway, p. 112; and Morris MSS.
ARMS.--_Argent, a chevron between three chess-rooks ermine_. The
former coat, _Argent, on a cross patonce azure five fleurs-de-lis
or_, was ascribed to John de Walcote in the Roll of the reign of
Richard II.
Present Representative, the Rev. Charles Walcot.