Sir Henry Lovet, Knt

The Baronetage of England, Or the History of the English Baronets ..., Volume 4 By William Betham [on Google Books]

pp. 87-88

345. LOVETT, of Liscombe House, Bucks.

Created Baronet, Sept. 29, 1781.

THE family of Loueth, Luueth, De Luviet, De Luvet, Lovet, or Lovett, as the name is variously written in Domesday, is of Norman extraction. They are of considerable antiquity, and as remarkable for their alliances as for their long continuance, being collaterally or maternally descended from the ancient houses of Beauchamp, Enquines, St. Maure, Turville, Billinge, Draughton, Gimilies, Ligures, Linseys, Prayors, Cranerfords, Faviles, Dauneys, Paris, Maltravers, Giffords, a younger branch of the Earls of Buckingham, the Baron of Bromflett, &c. &c. &c* [* Farailia Lovettorum, &c.—See the inscription, under Thomas Lovet, 1491.]

1, Richardus De Louet, de Normania, was living at the time of the Conquest, whose two sons, Wills, and Robert, attended him into England. From Wills, the eldest, the Lovetts, of Buckinghamshire and Northamptonshire, are descended; and from Robert, the youngest, the Lovetts, of Worcestershire.

Robert, and his descendants, acquired many and fair manors and estates in that county. He made Elmly Castle his chief residence, which he held (by military service) by a grant to him and to the heirs male of his body, by the heirs of Ralph De Todeni, who held it of the crown in the time of William I.; and from this family the parish took the name of Elmly-Lovett, as did also the parish of Hampton, in this county. At the time ot Domesday, Hampton was held by Urso DeAbetot; from him it came to the Beauchamps, who were his heirs; and from them, by hereditary succession, to the Lovetts, of Elmly. Robert was succeeded by his son William, who married Isabel St. Maur, daughter of John St. Maur. Sir Henry, his son, succeeded him, and married Isabella De Beauchamp, daughter and heiress of Lord Beauchamp, of Hatch. William De Beauchamp had the wardship of Sir Henry, and married him into his own family. During that period, Robert Estoteville, the husband of Joane Lovett, (probably Henry's sister), disputed with William De Beauchamp, the presentation to Hampton-Lovett, but it was determined in favour of Beauchamp. Isabella, upon the death of Sir Henry Lovett, married Sir William Blount, of Sodington. Sir Henry was succeeded by his son, Sir John Lovett, who died, leaving two daughters, his coheiresses, Cecilia, and Alice, who dying S. P. the name was extinct in this county, and Elmly Lovett fell to Beauchamp, Earl of Warwick, who proved himself right heir of Ralph De Todeni, under whom the Lovetts held it. Isabella, widow of Sir Henry Lovett, presented to the church of Elmly, ratione dotis, 1316. Hampton-Lovett, and Sir John Lovett's lands in Brocton, Stockton, and Amnell, all came to the Blounts upon the death of his daughter, probably in right of Isabella, their mother, and widow of Sir Henry Lovett, upon his family becoming extinct. There are two deeds extant of this Sir John Lovett, without date, recited thus: Sciat, &;c. quod ego Johannes de Lovet, miles, Dominus De Elmly Lovet, dedi Walter Le Blount, fratri meo, § Johanni, filio suo, filiolo meo (Dugdale explains filiolo meo to be my godson) quindecim solidos annui redditus, &c. And, in the Harl. MSS. is the other, without date also. Johannes Lovett, Dominus de Amnell—concessit Domine—Isabella, matri sue, uxori Domini Willelmi Le Blount, maner. & terr. in Tumberlack.

This branch of the family bore for their arms, Three wolves heads, or, in a field, sable, which arms were borne by Richard De Louet, of Normandy, before the Conquest.