This book tells the story of families once famous but whose fame is now mainly forgotten. They all lived in Hertfordshire and Befordshire in the 16th and 17th centuries, and include the Bechers of Renhold (of Becher's Brook fame), the Mordaunts of Turvey Abbey, Lady Cathcart of Tewin, the Bull family of Hertford, the Nodes family of Stevenage, the Docwras of Lilley and the Wicked Lady of Markyate Cell.
All the families were related to each other forming an intricate network over two counties, Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire. The author is one of their 20th century descendants.
The book includes pedigrees showing the relationship between various families, and illustrations of many of the manor houses and mansions in which they lived.
Contents:
Introduction
1. The Bechers of Renhold
2. The Bull Family of Hertford
3. The Capells of Little Hadham
4. The Chapmans, and the Nodes of Shephallbury
5. The Coningsby, Elwes, Fyshe and Barre Families
6. The Docwras of Hitchin, Putteridge and Lilley
7. The Faircloughs and Early Harmers of Weston
8. The Harmers of Dane End, Weston
9. The Hydes of Throcking
10. The Knightons, the Herveys and the Wicked Lady
11. The Kymptons of Howells and Clothallbury
12. Lady Cathcart of Tewin
13. The Morduants of Turvey and the Petres of Essex
14. The Nedhams, and the Warrens of Bygrave
15. The iggots of Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire
Pedigrees
- The Barnardiston Family
- The Barre Family
- The Bechers
- The Boteler Family
- The Bull Family
- The Capell Family
- The Chapman Family
- The Clarke Family
- The Coningsby Family
- The Docwra Family
- The Elwes Family
- The Fairclough Family
- The Fyshe Family
- The Harmer Family
- The Harvey (or Hervey) Family of Thurleigh and Northill in Bedfordshire
- The Harvey (or Hervey) Family of Ickworth in Suffolk
- The Hyde Family
- The Knighton Family
- The Kympton (or Kimpton) Family
- The Lytton (or Litton) Family
- The Mordaunt Family
- The Nedham Family
- The Nodes Family
- The Petre (Petter or Peter) Family
- The Piggot Family of Wheathampstead, Cardington, Houghton and Renhold
- The Piggot Family of Wallington, Kingswoodbury, Edworth, Astwick, Stratton and Holme, and Gravenhurst
- The St John Family
- The Taverner Family
- The Warren Family
- The Wingate Family
Historical Notes and Extracts from Documents
Index of People
Index of Places
