The Battle Abbey Roll. Vol. II.
by
The Duchess of Cleveland.

Prepared by Michael A. Linton
-------*--------
Return to Index

Hercy : from Hericy, Normandy. "D'Hericy" is included in the Abbe De La Rue's list of the earliest Norman settlers in England. Pillerton Hercy, in Warwickshire, was named from Hugh de Hercy, to whom it was granted by King John. "Gilbert de Waseville possess'd Nether Pillerton in Richard I.'s time, and by committing felony forfeited his whole estate, which the King bestowed upon Hugh de Hercy, who gave for his Armes only a label of five points, and left John his son and heir in ward of Thomas Basset in 13 John. From which John descended John de Hercy (I suppose his grandson) who in 7 Ed. I. held this manor of the Earl of Warwick by the service of one knight's fee, but this John had no issue as I guesse; for in 35 Ed. I., he settled it after the decease of himself and Lettice his wife upon Thomas Wandak and Alice his wife."—Dugdale. Yet the name survived in the neighbouring counties: for Hugo de Hercy was Sheriff of Derby and Notts 15 Ed. III.; Humphrey Hercy 15 Hen. VII., and John Hercy 2 Edward VI. Richard and Robert Hercy, Norfolk; and Hugo and Mauveisin Hercy, Notts; occur in the Rotuli Hundredorum of the time of Edward I. This Mauveisin had, in the previous reign, been appointed Constable of Tickhill. A brother of his, named Baldwin is also mentioned. William Hercy of Northampton, 4 Henry V., and bis son of the same name, citizen and haberdasher of London, 6 Henry VI., are incidentally alluded to in Bridge's History of Northamptonshire.