William Heriz, alias Smith

"The original name of this family was heriz, but in the reign of Henry VII, William Heriz of Withcote, in the county of Leicester, assumed the name and arms of Smith... in consideration of the manor of Withcote, which was bequethed to him... This William Heriz, alias Smith, was of the same family as William Heriz, of Wiverton, in the county of Nottingham.

By his will, Mr. Smith bound his daughter's husbands (Strange) and their children, to take the name of Smith, and to bear the arms of Smith and Heriz. After his death, for the want of his having properly passed a fine and recovery of the manor of South Weald, that fine seat and estate, after a suit at law, was adjudged from his daughters to the heirs of his two sisters."

He commenced the rebuilding Withcote church and it was finished by Roger Ratcliffe esquire, who married his widow. The arms of Smith are cut in stone on the south door of the church.

Pedigree of Smith, alias Heriz, of Withcote

References

• The history and antiquities of the county of Leicester : Vol. 2, Part 1. Page 182 < link >; Page 183 < link >; Page 184. < link >
• https://www.smithsworldwide.org/tng/getperson.php?personID=I31666&t... (has errors)
• http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~smithhouse/smithg... (has errors)
• https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/collaborate/LVH4-JVL