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

Prepared by Michael A. Linton
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Phuars : probably for Phaer, or Phayer, a Flemish name, still known in Belgium. "The Flemings were numerous in Norwich from an early period, and Flemings were planted in Pembrokeshire by Henry I." (Notes and Queries, 6th S. ii.) "Some of their countrymen had already settled in this country in the days of William the Conqueror, and we find them established about Downton at the period of the Domesday survey. An eruption of the sea into Flanders compelled the inhabitants to emigrate in great numbers. Many of the wanderers sought refuge in England, and were allowed to inhabit the borders of Scotland. Shortly afterwards, about 1107-8, the King removed this colony to the Welsh border, and gave them permission to settle at Rhos, near Tenby, which they were to take possession of for themselves. "And so it was," continues Florence of Worcester, "and these strangers settled there as loyal men to the King; and he placed English among them to teach them the English language; and they are now English, and the plague of Dyved and South Wales on account of their deceit and lies, in which they exceeded any settlers in any part of the island of Britain.'"—Bridgeman's Princes of South Wales.

Four Flemings, all of them tenants-in-chief, "Hugo, Odo, Walterus, and Winemarus Flandrensis," are entered in Domesday: but their Christian names only are given: and Phaire—as far, at least, as I know—is not found in any mediaeval record. The first of the family mentioned is Colonel Robert Phaire, the Regicide, Governor of Cork in 1654, who went over to Ireland with Cromwell, and was seated at Rostellan Castle. "There is a tradition that he was a Quaker: but he was in reality a Muggletonian, and is 'described as the corner stone of that faith in Ireland.'"—Notes and Queries, 6th S. 100. He was twice married, and left descendants settled at Grange, Killoughran, and Temple Shannon, Wexford. Robert Phaire of Temple Shannon married in 1761 Lady Richarda Annesley, eldest daughter of Richard, sixth and last Earl of Anglesey; and their son acquired Pallas, co. Cork, through an heiress. They are still seated at Killoughdrum Forest, co. Wexford, and bear Gules a cross moline Argent, over all a bend Azure. Their crest is a message of peace—the dove bearing the olive branch, wholly inappropriate to their regicide founder.