John Watson (officer of arms)
Encyclopedia
John Watson was a lawyer
, Notary Public
and the first Commonwealth Register at the Court of Chivalry
and officer of arms
at the College of Arms
in London
. He served as commissary
and treasurer
to Major Legge and Colonel Washington in the Royalist Army during the English Civil War
. During the Commonwealth, Watson became acting Bluemantle Pursuivant
at the College of Arms
he was later appointed as Bluemantle for life. This appointment was later rescinded when the Monarchy was restored. Watson acted in an official capacity at the funeral of the Earl of Essex
.
, Worcestershire
, the son of William Watson and Alice Egioke. He married Anne, the daughter of George Dethick who was the Registrar of the Court of Chivalry
. George Dethick was the son of Sir William Dethick
.
in the Civil War. Washington was a descendent of Sir William Washington of Northampton which is the same family as George Washington
, the first US President. A memorial in Wickhamford Church, Worcester states - "Sacred to the memory of Penelope, daughter of that most distinguished and renowned soldier, Col. Henry Washington.
The Pitway referred to, was probably Edward Pitway, the Innkeeper of the Red Lion in Evesham [Now the site of the Northwick Arms], and known supporter of the Parliament side in the Civil war. This would explain the dispute with John Watson, a royalist. Pitway was a Capital Burgess of Evesham and later (1648) the Mayor. Many of the Pitway family were tenants of the Dean and Chapter of Worcester Cathedral.
brought Watson to the position of Bluemantle Pursuivant at the College of Arms
. Although he was a Royalist, he was chosen by the Parliamentary Government (The Long Parliament of 1646) for this position. He is listed in the documentation of the College of Arms, after the restoration of the Monarchy in which he lost his position, as an 'Intruder' Bluemantle.
He officially assisted at the Funeral of Parliament's Robert Devereux, 3rd Earl of Essex
, and marched in the procession carrying the Earl's Helm and Crest. There is a Broadsheet illustration of the Funeral Procession in the British Museum
, which shows John carrying the Helm.
Parliament ordered new Tabards for the College of Arms (from Edmund Harrison, embroiderer) which replace the Royal Arms with the new Arms of the Commonwealth (The State) Amongst others, John Watson wore the new Tabard at the Funeral of Henry Ireton
(1651). Miscellaneous Grants VIII bought by the College of Heralds from the Tixall Library, 1899, contain copies of grants collected and mostly certified by John Watson. This previously belonged to Peter Le Neve, and Thomas Martin.
Watson was born to William Watson and Alice Egioke. He married Anne Dethick, with whom he had three children. Thomazin Watson was born 14 November 1650, Ann Watson was born 11 November 1650 and James Watson was born 14 May 1656 in London.
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
, Notary Public
Notary public
A notary public in the common law world is a public officer constituted by law to serve the public in non-contentious matters usually concerned with estates, deeds, powers-of-attorney, and foreign and international business...
and the first Commonwealth Register at the Court of Chivalry
Court of Chivalry
Her Majesty's High Court of Chivalry of England and Wales is a civil court in England. It has had jurisdiction in cases of the misuse of heraldic arms since the fourteenth century....
and officer of arms
Officer of arms
An officer of arms is a person appointed by a sovereign or state with authority to perform one or more of the following functions:*to control and initiate armorial matters*to arrange and participate in ceremonies of state...
at the College of Arms
College of Arms
The College of Arms, or Heralds’ College, is an office regulating heraldry and granting new armorial bearings for England, Wales and Northern Ireland...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. He served as commissary
Commissary
A commissary is someone delegated by a superior to execute a duty or an office; in a formal, legal context, one who has received power from a legitimate superior authority to pass judgment in a certain cause or to take information concerning it.-Word history:...
and treasurer
Treasurer
A treasurer is the person responsible for running the treasury of an organization. The adjective for a treasurer is normally "tresorial". The adjective "treasurial" normally means pertaining to a treasury, rather than the treasurer.-Government:...
to Major Legge and Colonel Washington in the Royalist Army during the English Civil War
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
. During the Commonwealth, Watson became acting Bluemantle Pursuivant
Bluemantle Pursuivant
Bluemantle Pursuivant of Arms in Ordinary is a junior officer of arms of the College of Arms in London. The office is reputed to have been created by King Henry V to serve the Order of the Garter, but there is no documentary evidence of this. There is, however, mention of an officer styled...
at the College of Arms
College of Arms
The College of Arms, or Heralds’ College, is an office regulating heraldry and granting new armorial bearings for England, Wales and Northern Ireland...
he was later appointed as Bluemantle for life. This appointment was later rescinded when the Monarchy was restored. Watson acted in an official capacity at the funeral of the Earl of Essex
Earl of Essex
Earl of Essex is a title that has been held by several families and individuals. The earldom was first created in the 12th century for Geoffrey II de Mandeville . Upon the death of the third earl in 1189, the title became dormant or extinct...
.
Early life
He was born at Bengeworth near EveshamEvesham
Evesham is a market town and a civil parish in the Local Authority District of Wychavon in the county of Worcestershire, England with a population of 22,000. It is located roughly equidistant between Worcester, Cheltenham and Stratford-upon-Avon...
, Worcestershire
Worcestershire
Worcestershire is a non-metropolitan county, established in antiquity, located in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes it is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three counties that comprise the "Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire" NUTS 2 region...
, the son of William Watson and Alice Egioke. He married Anne, the daughter of George Dethick who was the Registrar of the Court of Chivalry
Court of Chivalry
Her Majesty's High Court of Chivalry of England and Wales is a civil court in England. It has had jurisdiction in cases of the misuse of heraldic arms since the fourteenth century....
. George Dethick was the son of Sir William Dethick
William Dethick
Sir William Dethick was a long-serving officer of arms at the College of Arms in London. He was the son of Sir Gilbert Dethick and followed his father as Garter Principal King of Arms...
.
Civil War
In the Parliament State Papers, there is a reference to John Watson — "Information that he was in arms against Parliament, and four years since, was of the King's party at Evesham.co. Worcestershire, and was commissary and treasurer to Major Legge and Colonel Washington. " The exact nature of the party is unclear though, with the reference possibly being of Robert Legge, Governor of Evesham with Colonel Washington most likely referencing Henry Washington, a loyal CavalierCavalier
Cavalier was the name used by Parliamentarians for a Royalist supporter of King Charles I and son Charles II during the English Civil War, the Interregnum, and the Restoration...
in the Civil War. Washington was a descendent of Sir William Washington of Northampton which is the same family as George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
, the first US President. A memorial in Wickhamford Church, Worcester states - "Sacred to the memory of Penelope, daughter of that most distinguished and renowned soldier, Col. Henry Washington.
When EveshamEveshamEvesham is a market town and a civil parish in the Local Authority District of Wychavon in the county of Worcestershire, England with a population of 22,000. It is located roughly equidistant between Worcester, Cheltenham and Stratford-upon-Avon...
was stormed by Colonel Massey, he secured himself amongst his friends until he found opportunity to escape. Before Evesham was taken, Mr. Pitway, refusing to drink health to the confusion of Parliament, Watson ran at Pitway with sword drawn, and being stopped by a person in the room, he fell down and broke his leg.
The Pitway referred to, was probably Edward Pitway, the Innkeeper of the Red Lion in Evesham [Now the site of the Northwick Arms], and known supporter of the Parliament side in the Civil war. This would explain the dispute with John Watson, a royalist. Pitway was a Capital Burgess of Evesham and later (1648) the Mayor. Many of the Pitway family were tenants of the Dean and Chapter of Worcester Cathedral.
College of Arms
The English Civil WarEnglish Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
brought Watson to the position of Bluemantle Pursuivant at the College of Arms
College of Arms
The College of Arms, or Heralds’ College, is an office regulating heraldry and granting new armorial bearings for England, Wales and Northern Ireland...
. Although he was a Royalist, he was chosen by the Parliamentary Government (The Long Parliament of 1646) for this position. He is listed in the documentation of the College of Arms, after the restoration of the Monarchy in which he lost his position, as an 'Intruder' Bluemantle.
He officially assisted at the Funeral of Parliament's Robert Devereux, 3rd Earl of Essex
Robert Devereux, 3rd Earl of Essex
Robert Devereux, 3rd Earl of Essex was an English Parliamentarian and soldier during the first half of the seventeenth century. With the start of the English Civil War in 1642 he became the first Captain-General and Chief Commander of the Parliamentarian army, also known as the Roundheads...
, and marched in the procession carrying the Earl's Helm and Crest. There is a Broadsheet illustration of the Funeral Procession in the British Museum
British Museum
The British Museum is a museum of human history and culture in London. Its collections, which number more than seven million objects, are amongst the largest and most comprehensive in the world and originate from all continents, illustrating and documenting the story of human culture from its...
, which shows John carrying the Helm.
Parliament ordered new Tabards for the College of Arms (from Edmund Harrison, embroiderer) which replace the Royal Arms with the new Arms of the Commonwealth (The State) Amongst others, John Watson wore the new Tabard at the Funeral of Henry Ireton
Henry Ireton
Henry Ireton was an English general in the Parliamentary army during the English Civil War. He was the son-in-law of Oliver Cromwell.-Early life:...
(1651). Miscellaneous Grants VIII bought by the College of Heralds from the Tixall Library, 1899, contain copies of grants collected and mostly certified by John Watson. This previously belonged to Peter Le Neve, and Thomas Martin.
Family
Watson's Coat of Arms were Azure, with a fesse ermine between three Suns in splender Proper.Watson was born to William Watson and Alice Egioke. He married Anne Dethick, with whom he had three children. Thomazin Watson was born 14 November 1650, Ann Watson was born 11 November 1650 and James Watson was born 14 May 1656 in London.