Ulcombe and the St. Legers (original) (raw)

The aims of this web page is to portray the history of the St. Leger family from their origns in England in the village of Ulcombe, Kent to their settlement in Ireland and other parts of the United Kingdom.

Family tradition says they are descended from a Norman knight, Sir Robertus de Sancto Leodegario who is reputed to have supported the hand of William the Conqueror when he stumbled from his ship in the waters off Pevensey in 1066. This sounds shere fantasy which was often done to establish a pedigree going back to some notable person or time in history. Sir Robert certainly existed and many of todays branches can trace their ancestry back to him but there is no proof that he was even at the Battle of Hastings, let alone supported William the Conqueror when he fell!. Sir Robert did hold lands in Bexhill in 1086 and later held the manor of Ulcombe in Kent which his descendants owned until it was sold in 1648. It is very possible that Sir Robertus Sancto Leodegario was amongst the followers of William the Conqueror who settled in Britain during the first year after the invasion as many did. He is not mentioned in any of the authoritive works on the Conquest as having been present at the Battle of Hastings.

The descendants of Sir Robert soon settled in other parts ; in the early 13th century William de St. Leger of the Kentish family settled in Kilkenny and his descendants became the St. Legers of Tullaghambrogue. In the later 16th century another Sir William St. Leger settled in Ireland and his descendants became the ancestors of the St. Legers of co. Cork and of the Viscounts Doneraile. Another descendant, James St. Leger settled in Devon. Anne St. Leger, married Thomas Digges and became the grandmother of Edward Digges, the Govenor of Virginia. There were many more St. Legers from the Kentish family who settled in London and other parts of Kent.

But NOT ALL St. Leger/St. Ledgers are descended from the Kentish family. There was a family of French Huguenots who settled in London in the late 16th/early 17th century and then there was the family of Henry Le Coq another French Huguenot who landed with William of Orange at Torbay as "Captain of Horse". He was naturalised in 1698 and assumed the name of St. Leger and settled at Charleston, Sunbury, Middlesex and at Trunkwell House, Shinfield, Berkshire.

NOTABLE ST. LEGERS
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In 1776 the famous classic horse race, The St. Leger, was named after of its founder, Lt. Col.Anthony St. Leger. It has been run annually at Doncaster ever since. Elizabeth St. Leger (Mrs. Aldworth) was the First Lady Freemason. And, Major Barry St. Leger, one of Lt. col. Anthony St. Leger's brothers, served in the American War of Independence fighting against the American rebels. Then there was Capt. John St. Leger, a member of the United Irishmen. John was tried for treason and embezzeling powder belonging to His Majesty. He was found guilty of the latter charge and sentenced to transportation for life.

Jane St. Leger (b.1801/2) was my husband's great, great grandmother and she was my inspiration for my interest in genealogy. Needless to say, it was trying to trace her lineage from the St. Leger's which started me off on my family history quest. I have never yet found for definite her connection but I have, through her, traced my own family history which has been just as interesting a task.

There is more information on the St. Leger family and my Staffordshire and Pembrokeshire ancestors on my sister website St. Leger-May Genealogy. You will find the link listed below. Do take a look if you are interested in the name ST. LEGER. You may well find some connections there.

Please remember that this document is not completely verified.
The information cannot be relied upon as a source.
It may however, provide clues for further research, that can be substantiated

� Copyright Rosemary May 2003