A Complete Genealogical Reference
The Barham family history spans nearly a millennium, with roots tracing back to Norman England. This document serves as a comprehensive resource detailing the Barham family legacy, their estates, and their connections to nobility and influential historical figures. Designed as an educational aid, it provides insight into the Barham lineage, notable relatives, and the broader context of their impact in England and colonial America.
The name "Barham" evolved from "de Berham" which was adopted by descendants of the FitzUrse family. The transformation of the family name—from the Norman French "FitzUrse" (meaning "son of the bear") to the more English "Barham"—was more than a mere linguistic shift. It represented a conscious break with the past while subtly maintaining the connection to family origins. The bear in their lineage remained, though now hidden in translation and geography rather than explicitly stated.
The name appears in historical records by the late 12th century, notably in land transactions and parish registers. By the 13th century, the Barhams had established themselves as landowners again, their connection to the infamous Reginald FitzUrse obscured but not entirely forgotten by historians.
Canterbury Cathedral, December 29, 1170. Four knights, their armor glinting in the winter light filtering through the cathedral's windows, approached Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury and once-friend of King Henry II. Among these knights was Reginald FitzUrse, a loyal servant to the crown and a man whose actions on this day would forever alter not only English history but the fate of his own bloodline.
Reginald, whose name "FitzUrse" literally meant "son of the bear" in Norman French, was a man of noble bearing and considerable landholdings. His family had come to England with William the Conqueror less than a century before. Now, he faced excommunication and the potential loss of everything.
By 1171, faced with universal condemnation, Reginald FitzUrse retreated to Ireland and then to Normandy, forced to forfeit his lands. In the years following the murder at Canterbury, the FitzUrse family name became synonymous with the killing of a saint—an impossible burden to bear. Historical records indicate that in Kent, the county where Canterbury stands, descendants of the FitzUrse family made a significant decision: they would adopt a new name, transforming "FitzUrse" (son of the bear) to "de Berham" or "Barham," possibly a reference to the place Barham in Kent, itself derived from "bear home" or "place of the bear."
Sibyl of Falaise (or Sibil de Falaise) was a kinswoman of King Henry I of England. She was possibly his illegitimate daughter or a niece, as the sources are unclear. Another possibility is that she may have been more distantly related to him instead.
Birth and Lineage: Born at Worspring Manor, Somerset, England, Sybilla de Falaise was likely an illegitimate daughter of King Henry I. Historical records describe her as Henry's "nepta," a term implying kinship and lending credence to her royal connections. Henry I's involvement in her marriage and the provision of estates suggests efforts to legitimize her status in the eyes of the court.
Marriage and Political Importance: Sybilla was given away in marriage by Henry I to Baldwin de Boullers, a Norman noble with significant holdings in Shropshire. This union strengthened ties between the monarchy and Norman aristocracy while securing Sybilla's social and economic status.
Estates and Legacy: Sybilla's marriage brought her considerable wealth and land, likely including portions of Falaise and other estates tied to her lineage. These estates became pivotal in the family's consolidation of power and influence. Her legacy established a noble foundation for her descendants, including the FitzUrse family, who would later become the De Bereham family.
Sibyl was called the "nepta" (either "niece" or "kinswoman") of King Henry I of England. The term "niece" was often used to mean that the person was an illegitimate child rather than a niece, so it is possible that she was really Henry's bastard daughter. The historian Frank Barlow also implies that she could have been Henry's daughter rather than his niece.
Against this, Kathleen Thompson argues that Henry was not shy about recognizing his bastards, and that it is more likely that Sibyl was the illegitimate daughter of Henry's elder brother Robert Curthose. Robert was Duke of Normandy from 1086 (although he pawned it in 1096 to another brother, William Rufus, to finance going on the First Crusade), and Falaise was where Robert's legitimate son, William Clito, was being raised.
Katharine Keats-Rohan argues instead that Sibyl was the younger daughter of William de Falaise and Geva de Burcy. William de Falaise was the lord of Stogursey in Somerset. Keats-Rohan says that Sibyl was just a "kinswoman" of Henry and not a bastard of either Henry or Robert.
Notes about SYBILLA de FALAISE: Sybil was referred to as the niece of Henry I of England but is commonly believed, probably incorrectly, to be one of his illegitimate children. "The assertion by one author that the word "neptis" might be an euphemism for an illegitimate daughter seems unfounded. Rather, Sibyl of Falaise was simply a near kinswoman of undeterminate relationship to King Henry I of England.
Henry I gave the honour of Montgomery (in Wales) to Baldwin de Boulers on his marriage to Sibyl de Falaise. Sibyl was some kind of relation, probably cousin, of Henry I, but not niece as is interpreted from the latin...
The IPM of Vitalis Engayne in 1248 (CIPM 1: 166) says for Suffolk "Badmundefeld, a moiety of the manor (extent given) held of the honour on Mungumeri without service, because King Henry, the king's great-great grandfather, gave the manor in free marriage to Baldwin de Bulers, ancestor of the said Vitalis, with Sibyl de Falaise his niece."
The division is reiterated in the IPM of William de Cantilupo in 1253 (CIPM 1 : 318) Suffolk. "Badmundefield manor (extent given). King Henry I gave the manor to Baldwin de Boulers in free marriage with Sibyl de Faleisse, wherefore no service has ever been done to the king for the same."
Father: William de Falaise: Domesday People, p.474 has Sybil as daughter of William de Falaise possibly son of William de Moulins, son of Walter de Falaise, brother of Herleve de Falaise, mother of Duke William.
Sybil's mother was Geva, da. and heiress of Serlo de Burcy, Lord of Blagdon, Somerset. Geva was previously married to Martin and her son and heir was Robert fitz Martin d.1159. Sibyl's connection to Herleve, mother of Wm. the C., is (though certainly possible) speculation which, at this time lacks documentary proof.
Keats-Rohan in Domesday Descendants has Sibilla de Falesia as younger daughter of William de Falaise and Geva de Burcy. "She was given in marriage to Baldwin de Boullers by Henry I, who described her as his 'nepta', i.e. kinswoman".
King Henry I of England (r.1100-1135) holds the record for an English monarch with the most acknowledged illegitimate children. He is estimated to have had between 20 and 25 illegitimate children, most of them daughters. Unfortunately, not much is written of these daughters. The chroniclers seemed to care more about his illegitimate sons, especially Robert, Earl of Gloucester, said to be Henry's oldest and favourite illegitimate child. The birth years of his illegitimate children are uncertain, as is their birth order. Henry had various mistresses, but not much is known of any of them. For many of his illegitimate children, their mothers are unknown.
Henry had nine illegitimate sons that he recognised as his own. The number of daughters is less certain. There are several daughters, such as Sybilla, Queen of Scotland, Matilda, Countess of Perche, and Juliana, who are known for sure to have belonged to Henry. There are some that we know of, only because of charters they were mentioned in, such as Adeliza. There is one probable daughter, whose name was not recorded, but there is significant evidence that she was the wife of the Scottish lord, Fergus of Galloway. There is also Rohese, a daughter of Henry's mistress, Sybilla Corbet, but whether she was Henry's or not is less certain. There is Sybil of Falaise, who was recorded as being a relative of the king, but the exact relationship is unknown. Then there is Emma, who is speculated to be Henry's daughter, but there is no hard evidence for this.
Among the possible daughters of Henry I was "Possibly Sybil of Falaise, married Baldwin de Boullers. She is described as a kinswoman or niece of Henry I. She possibly could have been the daughter of Henry's brother, Robert, Duke of Normandy instead."
Katherine Filmer was born in 1597 in East Sutton, Kent, England. She was the daughter of Sir Edward Filmer (1566-1629) and Lady Elizabeth (Argall) Filmer (1570-1638).
Katherine married Robert Edward Barham (1598-1648) on Aug. 1, 1620 in East Sutton, Kent, England. Robert was the son of Robert Barham (1572-1631) and Susanna (Sare) Barham (1576-).
Robert and Katherine Barham were the parents of the following known children: Edward, Richard, Charles, Thomas, Robert, John, Ann, Elizabeth and Susan Barham.
Katherine was the third daughter of Sir Edward Filmer and Elizabeth Argall. Elizabeth Argall's brother was Captain Samuel Argall who opened a new and safer route from Portsmouth, England to Jamestown in 1609. In 1613 he led an expedition that captured Pocahontas, an Indian Princess and brought her to Jamestown as a hostage in order to keep local Indians from attacking the settlement.
Katherine's grandmother was Mary Scott of Scotthall, Kent a direct decendant of Sir William Balliol, and brother of John Balliol, King of Scotland. Two of Katherine's children, Charles and his sister Susan left England aboard his uncle's Samuel Argall's ship The Treasuer and arrived in Jamestown about 1653.
East Sutton is a small village today, and consists mainly of a dwelling known as "Carleton Courts" or little Carlton, and a large residence known as East Sutton Park. This large, imposing manor house was the home of Sir Edward Filmer and a 13th century church on the property seems to be part of the manor.
On the north aisle inside the church is the famous floor brass of Sir Edward Filmer and his wife (1638) and at the base of the brass are figures of his nine sons and nine daughters; Katherine being the third daughter. Katherine's brother Sir Robert Filmer was an ardent Royalist during England's Civil War and was a near friend of King Charles I of England. He was also the Author of "De Patriarchs" which dealt with the divine rights of kings.
Katherine's mother was Elizabeth Argall, whose brother was governor of Virginia; her grandmother was Mary Scott, daughter of Sir Reginald Scott of Scotthall, Kent. Sir Reginald was a direct descendant of Sir William Balliol, brother of John Balliol, King of Scotland. Thus, Katherine through her mother and grandmother was descended from King David I, King of Scotland. (Taken from Halstead's History of Kent.)
Katherine Barham's will was dated November 1, 1662, and her son Richard was the executor.
Katherine died 19 Dec 1662 in East Sutton, Kent, England. She was 65 years old. Katherine was buried in St Andrew, Holborn, London, England.
Birth: Before circa 1575, Saint Faith-in-the-fields, London, Middlesex, England
Death: After August 09, 1636, East Sutton, Kent, England
Burial: England, United Kingdom
Family:
Occupation: Dame - Housewife - born between 1570 and 1575
The Filmer family was originally seated at Herst, in the parish of Otterden, Kent, where Robert Filmer lived in the reign of Edward II. Sir Edward Filmer was eldest son of Robert Filmour, prothonotary of the court of Common Pleas in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, who removed to the estate of Little Charleton, in East Sutton, which he had purchased, and died in 1585. Sir Edward increased this estate by purchasing from his brother-in-law John Argall, Esq., the manor of East Sutton; he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth, and served the office of sheriff of Kent 13 James I.
He is represented in a handsome suit of body armor, a large frill round his neck, trunk-breeches, and jack-boots. His wife, Elizabeth, daughter of Richard Argall, esq., wears a cap, hood, ruff and short mantle; her dress opens in front and discovers a petticoat worked and fringed at the edge. Upon the death of this lady, Lovelace penned an elegant "Elegiacal epitaph," which concludes with these lines:--
"Thus, although this marble must,
as all things, must crumble into dust;
and though you find this fair-built tomb
Ashes as what lies in its womb;
Yet her saint-like name shall shine
A living glory in this shrine,
And her eternal fame be read,
When all but very virtue is dead."
Robert, their oldest son, the first of the group below, employed his pen in defense of the crown, was knighted by Charles I., and suffered heavily in purse and person during the civil wars. The inscription round the verge of the plate shows that the monument was prepared in the life-time of the widow, the date of her death having been scratched upon the metal, subsequently to its being placed in the church:
"Under this rest in certain hope of the resurrection, the bodies of Sir Edward Filmer, Knight, and dame Elizabeth, his wife, daughter of Richard Argall, Esquire. They lived together forty-four years and had issue eighteen children, Viz: nine sons and nine daughters. He departed this life on the second of November 1629 A. D. She the [9th of August] 16[38] A. D."
Taken from Monumental Brasses from the 13th to the 16th century by John Green Waller & Lionel A. B. Waller, 1864. Reprinted 1975 by Cambridge University.
In many family histories Elizabeth Standards is confused with her mother-in-law Elizabeth Argall.
Capt. Charles Barham, Gent., son of Robert Barham and Katherine Filmer, was born in Kent, England in about 1626.
Charles was descended from a long line of royalty dating back to Alice of Normandy, sister of William the Conqueror, Edward I, and the Emperor Charlemagne.
Charles was named in the wills of both of his maternal grandparents, Sir Edward Filmer (will proved 5 December 1629) and Dame Elizabeth Argall Filmer (will dated 23 March 1635, proved 16 August 1638), each grandparent leaving him 40 s.
Charles was also named in the 31 October 1657 will of his brother, Edward Barham of Gray's Inn, Middlesex. Edward appointed his mother, Mrs. Katherine Barham, as sole executor and left his lands in Sussex to his mother and then to his sister, Mrs. Susan Barham, with instruction that his brother Charles should receive all his lands after paying £500 to Susan. Edward's will was proved 27 October 1661 by their mother. His mother made her will in Kent on 1 November 1662 and it was proved at the Prerogative Court of Canterbury on 19 December 1662 by her son, Richard.
Richardson states that Charles immigrated to Virginia in 1661, however, a Charles Barham is first found in Surry County, Virginia in 1654, in a bond of Andrew Robinson to Dorothy Kew. He is next found on a 24 May 1661 list of vestrymen of Lawnes Creek Parish. Charles is named in a deed dated 2 February 1663 from Thomas Smith, et al, to Charles Barham, Gent., of Lawnes Creek Parish, for 300 acres at Hog Island, in which his brother Richard Barham of London is named.
He may have been a business partner with Capt. William Cockerham, as they received joint land grants in 1665 and 1666 and Charles was in charge of Capt. Cockerham's estate on his death. He was appointed Justice of Surry County on 20 December 1668, confirmed in that position 31 March 1677 by Governor Berkeley and likely served until his death. He served as Sheriff of Surry in 1673 and is last found there on 4 September 1683 in Cockerham estate papers. His family was last listed among the tithables in 1680, so they may have moved from Surry before 1683. In the 1691 will of John Barnes of Surry County, he names "my kinsman Robert Barham ye sonne of Charles Barham late of Marchts. Hundrd, decd", so it is thought Charles and family removed to Merchants Hundred in James City County in the last years of his life.
He married Elizabeth _____ (possibly Ridley) before 2 February 1666/7. It is thought that his wife was a Ridley because Charles Barham was appointed executor of the will of William Ridley of Isle of Wight County in 1671 and bequests were left for his daughters, Elizabeth and Perilee. Charles and Elizabeth had two sons and two daughters:
Charles died shortly before 1 January 1683/4, when Elizabeth was appointed the executor his estate. Elizabeth, died 3 July 1694.
Captain Charles Barham is remembered as a prominent figure in early colonial Virginia, serving as Sheriff of the expansive Virginia Territory. His land patents, including 1,000-acre tracts in Surry County, contributed to the family's transatlantic prominence.
Through marriage to Elizabeth Ridley, he further solidified the family's status in colonial America. His descendants continued to play significant roles in the development of Virginia and the early United States.
The Barham family's emigration to America represents an important branch of this noble lineage that continues to this day, with many American Barhams able to trace their ancestry back to Captain Charles Barham and, through him, to the royal and noble houses of medieval England.
The Barham lineage traces connections to nobility and prominent historical figures, such as: