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Bedingfield
The Bedingfield
surname is locality in origin,
and can be traced to a single founder of the line.There are a number
of derivatives including Bedenfields, Bedingfields, Bennafields,
Benefields, or Beddingfields .
The Bedingfields
are a very old Catholic family. They are first found in England
after 1066 with Ogerus de Pugeys de BEDINGFIELD. Ogerus de PUGEYS
was a Knight of Lord Malet, Companion to William, the Conqueror,
at the Battle of Hastings, in 1066.
The Bedingfield/Pugeys
are of Norman descent with their forebears settling in Normandy
France along with King Rolo of Norway. Rolo was a Viking leader
of the principality of Normandy. The King of France gave Rolo the
land of Normandy in an agreement to end the looting of France and
to help the King of France from other Vikings attacking France.
One of the Lords of Normandy was William, Lord Malet de Greville.
Ogerus de Pugeys was a Knight in Lords Malet's court. William The
Conqueror was the King of the Normandy at this time.
In 1066 when
William The Conqueror came over to England Lord Malet and his Knights
came with him to fight the Anglo-Saxon King. Lord Malet was first
cousin to the King of England's (Harold) wife, and was apparently
entrusted with the guard of Harold's body after he had been slain
on the battlefield. After the conquest William was made governor
of York Castle and was slain in its defense about 1071. Lord Malet's
son Robert, possessed at the general survey, thirty-two Lordships
in Yorkshire, three in Essex, one in Hampshire, two in Nofts, eight
in Lincolshire, and two hundred and twenty one in Suffolk. The near
kinsman of this Robert, William Malet, became Lord of the Honor
of Eye in Suffolk.
Because Ogerus
de Pugeys fought bravely alongside with Lord Malet he was given
land in Suffolk, England in an area known as Badyngafelda. Badyngafelda
was a pasture or meadow that was primarily used for the grazing
of sheep. The son of Ogerus was given the duty of caretaker for
the second William Malet of Honor of Eye in Suffolk, England. Ogerus
de Pugeys was given the title of Sir Knight Ogerus de Pugeys of
Badyngafelda. The name was later changed to de Badyngafelda in recognition
of the estate and manor and the de Pugeys was dropped. The family's
first seat was Flemmings Hall (it is now a farmhouse surrounded
by a moat). Around the 1300s the de was dropped, and the family
became known simply as Bedingfield.
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In the
fourteenth century the family divided into two branches, one
of which established itself at Ditchingham, the other at Oxburgh
in Norfolk, which continues to be the ancestoral home.
The family
was staunchly catholic was well respected during Tudor times,
with Sir Henry Bedingfield being made governor of the Tower
of London during the reign of the Catholic Queen, Mary. He
guarded Elizabeth with over a hundred men. He was perhaps
overly strict with his young charge, but his vigilance was
as much for Elizabeth's benefit as for the Queen's. Elizabeth's
life was sort by ardent supporters of the Queen, and hidden
away in obscurity, Elizabeth may well have been the successful
victim of an assassin
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Oxborough
Hall, Norfolk
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.Although Bedingfield's
constraints irritated her, Elizabeth certainly appears to have appreciated
his efforts, affectionately calling him her "gaoler", and when she
became Queen, although she dismissed him from court, she bore him
no ill will, and teased him that if she should need to keep someone
closely confined, she would summon him. She later visited him at Oxborough
Hall in 1578.
The family continued
to be quietly catholic, spending much time on the continent. Henry's
great grandson, Henry was a support of Charles I in his bid for
the throne. He was confined in the Tower for nearly 2 years and
his estates were sequestered. They were later restored to his son
Henry who was made a baronet in 1660.
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The family
shield is displayed in spectacular stain glass windows that
are part of the St Mary's Church in Bedingfield. The shield
is not particularly clear in the picture (left), but it consists
of an eagle. The family motto is
Aquila
non captat muscas
The
eagle does not catch flies.
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