William FLEGG, Sr

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BOOK
FAMILY RECORDS of the Descendants of GERSHOM FLAGG [Born 1730] of Lancaster Massahusettes (sic) with Other Genealogical Records of THE FLAGG FAMILY Descended from THOMAS FLEGG OF WATERTOWN MASS and Including THE FLEGG LINEAGE IN ENGLAND Compiled and Published by Norman Gersom Flagg and Lucius C S Flagg 1907
pg 9
Chapter I The De Fleggs In England 1160-1426
The family of DE FLEGG was seated in the latter part of the twelfth century in the county of Norfolk, on the east coast of England, and bears the name of the Hundred of East and West Flegg in that county, where they held grants of land in the reign of Henry II.
'In the south-eastern corner of Norfolk there is a dense Danish settlement occupying the Hundreds of East and West Flegg [from the Norse word 'flegg' or Danish 'vlak' meaning flat], a space some eight miles by seven, well protected on every side by the sea and the estuaries of the Bure and the Yare'- [From 'Words and Places', by Isaac Taylor, 1885].
Sir Henry Spellman supposes that 'the Danes made here their first settlement in England, as the nearest part of Norfolk to the sea, being well secured by its site, water, etc to maintain themselves therein and also from the names of towns ending in 'by', a Danish suffix for an habitation or village.'
The Britons and the Romans also are supposed to have had settlements here at an early date.
That the family was not of Saxon origin is indicated by their residence in this Danish settlement, their affiliations with Norman families so soon after the reign of William the Conqueror and their connection, in official positions, with the Roman Catholoic Church. It is probable that they were either Danes or Norman- French, and took their name from the Danish Hundreds where they held grants of land, the Norman-French 'de Flegg' meaning 'of Flegg.'
The two Hundreds of East and West Flegg make up the Deanery of Flegg in the Archdeaconry of Norwich. How they received their name is not known and little is known of them till the reign of King Stephen, who, by letters patent, granted these two Hundreds to Henry, his nephew, then abbot, and the monks of Saint Bennett.
Flegg Hall, the seat of the family in Norfolk in feudal times is referred to in the History of Norfolk, 1805-1810 [Library of the New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston], Vol XI, page 194, as follows:
'Flegg Hall: Sir John de Flegg was Lord in right of Margaret, his wife. The Fleggs had an interest in this town [Winterton] in the reign of Henry II, when John, Bishop of Norwich, and Gerard the prior and convent, granted in fee to Henry, son of Algar de Flegg, eight acres and three roods of land here in soccage, and ten acres in Dodsholm which Nigel formerly held of them, at 4s 4d per annum. Witnesses, Geffry, the Archdeacon. Arthur, Roger and William de Flegg were witnesses to a charter of Eberard, Bishop of Norwich.'
The history of Norfolk, England, 1781 [Library of Congress, Washington DC] Vol IV page 53, contains the following: Valoines granted to Henry de Flegg all the fee which he held of him in Winterton and Somerton for 3s per annum for which he formerly paid 20s sans date.
'In the reign of Henry III, Sir William de Flegg sold it to the de Mautebys, and it was brought by marriage to the Pastons. John Paston Esq, died fiefed of Mauteby and Flegg Manors, in the 6th of Edward IV, 1466, which extended into East and West Somerton; and Sir William Paston was found to die Lord of Winterton, Mauteby Manor, held of the Dean and Chapter of Norwich in soccage in the year 1611. In the year 1740 the Earl of Yarmouth [a Paston] was Lord.'
The following genealogy and that in Chapter II has been compiled from histories of Norfolk, records of Herald's Visitations, and the lineage given in North's History of Augusta ME 1870 which states that 'The lineage down to William Flegg of Swafield, living in 1521, was compiled from MSS in the British Museum and Rymeri Foedera, Inquis Post Mortem, and Escheats. The remainder chiefly from wills in the Consistory Court, Norwich.'
In the reign of Henry II there were living in the county of Norfolk, two brothers, Alger De Flegg and Henry De Flegg.
The brother, Alger De Flegg, was living in 1160
His son, Alger De Flegg, of flegg Hall and Hickling in the Hundred of West Flegg, county Norfolk, in 1204, is mentioned in records of Heral's Visitations in the 1st year of the reign of King John [1199] as holding patents to three divisions of land. [Library of Congress, Washington DC].
His son, John De Flegg, of Flegg Hall, by Beatrix, his wife, had issue, three sons,
I. John [Sir] of whom presently (see below)
II. Thomas of Swafield, county Norfolk, in 1241. 'Homas Flegg and Dionisia, his wife, convey to John Flegg a messuege, with lands and a fold course here [Swafield] in the 33rd of Henry III.' [History of Norfolk]. He, by Dionisia, had issue, three sons:
1. Roger, who, in 1307, was Vicar General of the order of Friars of Penetentia Jesu, at Lynn.
2. Arthur
3. William
III. Simon, living in the 41st of Henry III, had son, Simon, Prior of Haverland
The son (I.) Sir John De Flegg of Flegg Hall, 1228, Lord of Flegg and Bassingham Manors. This feudal lord married Margaret, daughter of Ser Pieres de Bassingham, Lord of Bassingham Manor, who left three daughters and coheirs; Christian the eldest married Sir Walter De Mauteby. Sir John was Lord of Bassingham Manor in right of Margaret his wife.
Their heir, Sir William De Flegg, of Flegg Hall, living in the 53rd of Henry III, 1268, sold Flegg Manor to the Mautebys.
His heir, William Le Fleght [or Flegg] released to Walter De Mauteby all his right and tile in the manor of Bassingham, that of West Beckham and Matalak, in the 6th of Edward I, 1277. John De Mauteby was Lord in the 9th of Edward II, 1315.
The following members of this family, whose relationship has not been ascertained, were all of the county of Norfolk:
William De Flegg, born at Hofton, 1316.
Henry De Flegg, living in 1320.
Thomas Flegg, died 1378.
John Flegg.
William Flegg, died 1426, of whom we treat in the beginning of Chapter II.
From Edward Hasted's 'Kent County' (extract) 'Folkestone Hundred. Hawking Parish' Fleggs Court or Hawking Manor anciently held of the Barony of Folkestone or Averenches, by knights service and ward to Dover Castle, by a family who took their surname from it. After they were extinct, it came into the possession of the Fleghs, continuing unntil reign of Edward I (1272-1307) in the 23rd of which William, son of John de Flegh, gave all his manor in the Hundred of Folkestone in Hawking and Evering together with the church of Hawking to the Abbot and convent of St Radigund at which time the mansion had acquired its present name of Flegh's Court.'
pg 13
Chapter II William Flegg and Descnedants in England 1426-1637
Flegg
Lineage- William Flegg [mentioned at end of Chapter I] living in county Norfolk in the reign of Henry IV was of the landed family, seated in Norfolk since 1160, of which we treat in the previous chapter. This William's father, whose name has not been ascertained, left issue,
The son, William Flegg, who died in 1426, leaving issue,
I. William, died 1467.
II. Thomas...

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