[Illustration] The sole remains of what was perhaps during the
middle ages the most powerful Norman family in England. Illustrious
both for the antiquity of race, the former political consequence,
and the splendour of connection of the various branches, of which
the forfeited Earls of Derby, and De Ferrariis, or Ferrers, were the
chiefs. Descended from Henry de Feriers at the time of the Conquest,
who held in chief 210 lordships in fourteen counties of England,
besides the castle and borough of Tutbury, in Staffordshire, the
principal seat of the earldom.
The Baddesley-Clinton line was founded by Sir Edward Ferrers, (son
of Sir Henry, who was second son of Thomas Ferrers, of Tamworth
Castle, in this county,) by his marriage with Constantia, daughter
and heiress of Nicholas Brome, of Baddesley. He died in 1535.
After the forfeiture of the Earldom of Derby, in the reign of Henry
III., and the vast possessions attached to it, the Castle of
Chartley, in Staffordshire, inherited from Agnes, daughter and
coheir of Ranulph, Earl of Chester, became the seat of the principal
male line, extinct on the death of William Lord Ferrers of Chartley
in the 28th of Henry VI. The representation of the family thereupon
devolved on the Ferrers's of Tamworth, sprung from the house of
Groby, who were founded by William, younger brother of the last Earl
of Derby: and on the decease of John Ferrers, of Tamworth, Esq. in
1680, the present family of Baddesley-Clinton succeeded as chief of
this illustrious house.
See Dugdale's Warwickshire, vol. ii. p. 971, for
Baddesley-Clinton, where however will be found no engravings
of the monuments of the Ferrers's, "because," says Dugdale, "so
frugall a person is the present heir of the family, now (1656)
residing here, as that he refusing to contribute anything towards
the charge thereof, they are omitted." For Ferrers of Chartley, and
the Earls of Derby, see Sir O. Mosley's History of Tutbury, 8vo.
1832; and Dugdale's Warwickshire, vol. ii. p. 1089; and for Ferrers
of Tamworth, the same, p. 1135.
ARMS.--_Gules, seven mascles or, a canton ermine_. This was the coat
of Quinci, Earl of Winchester, from whom the Ferrers of Groby were
descended, the canton being added for difference. The original coat
assigned to the first Earls of Derby, was, _Argent, six horseshoes
sable_; afterwards, _Vair or and gules, within a bordure of
horseshoes_, was used. The Chartley line bore only, _Vair, or and
gules_, which was latterly also borne by Ferrers of Tamworth. The
Quinci coat was used by William de Ferrers at Carlaverock in 1300.
(See the Roll.)
Present Representative, Marmion Edward Ferrers, Esq.