The origins of the family can be traced back to Anglo-Scandinavian landlords who managed to maintain status after the 1066 invasion of England by the Normans of France and the Harrying of the North.[3] The Fawcett family shares its name with Fawcett street[4] in Kensington (London), the Fawcett Forest in Cumbria, Fawcett Moor in North Yorkshire and a village in North Yorkshire listed as Forset in the Domesday Book of 1086[5] where the earliest known records of the family are mentioned under Henry II (1154 – 1189). The name Fawcett is derived from names de Forcett or de Forset which it replaces over the course of the 15th century following the Hundred Years' War.[6]
The first attested bearer of the name is Gilbert de Forcett, the younger son of Ervis, lord of Appleby-Upon-Tees, who granted him the lands of Forcett upon his marriage during the reign of Henry II.[7] Ervis's eldest son, Herbert de Appleby-Upon-Tees, who inherited the estate of Appleby, is the ancestor of the lords of Appleby.[8] Ervis was the grandson of a certain Ulf, listed as the lord of Appleby-Upon-Tees and Forcett in the Domesday Book,[9] and presumably descended from a Viking family of Danish origin that settled in Yorkshire during the 9th-century Scandinavian invasions.
By the 13th century, following the First War of Scottish Independence the Fawcett family had been granted the Manor of Hertesheved[10] (Hartside) in the Breamish Valley, Northumberland with the task to oversee this area and protect the northeast borders of the Kingdom of England.
The Fawcett family was frequently involved in the Anglo-Scottish conflicts of the late Middle Ages. They are recorded as fighting with the Percy family[11] (Anglo-Scottish wars of the 14th century) and with the Clifford family (battle of Flodden Field in 1513[12]) who held the offices of Warden of the Marches. The family's involvement in the Hundred Years' War is also recorded at the battle of Agincourt and the siege of Harfleur.[11][13]
Henry Fawcett of Over Hesleden (1562 - 1619), Sheriff and Alderman of Norwich[14]
During the 14th and 15th centuries, the Fawcett family extended its land holdings South mainly into the Yorkshire Dales and East in Cumbria. They had strong links with the Fountains Abbey, ensuring its protection as well as tenanting their land.[15] The family played a significant role in the Pilgrimage of Grace,[16] protesting against the dissolution of the monasteries. The Fawcett family eventually also became substantial landowners in the area when Miles Fawcett saved George Clifford, 3rd Earl of Cumberland, from bankruptcy in exchange for 2,000 acres of former Fountains Abbey land in 1603,[15] His brother, Henry Fawcett, a prosperous wool merchant became Alderman and Sheriff of Norwich.
General Sir William Fawcett KB (1727 - 1804) by Joshua Reynolds [17]
In the 17th and 18th century the family acquired estates in Westmorland (Sandford Hall[18] acquired by Richard Fawcett in 1671,[19] from whom descend General Sir William Fawcett, the Fawcetts of Sandford and the Rehman Fawcetts) and in Cumbria (Scaleby Castle inherited by Rowland Fawcett at the end of the 18th century[20] from whom descends Percy Fawcett the celebrated explorer). General Sir William Fawcett rose to prominence in the 18th century for his merits as a tactician and as an in-depth reformer of the British Army. His actions contributed significantly to the successes met by the British troops during the Napoleonic wars. He served as Adjutant-General to the Forces from 1781 to 1799 as a Commander-in-Chief in 1799. During this period Fawcett was the de facto ruler of the English army, and the most influential officer on the headquarters staff.
Over time the family moved from traditional farming to wool and silk trading[21] and became prominent shipping magnates[22] in East India during the XIXth and early XXth century.
The Fawcett family bears the arms “argent on a bend azure three dolphins embowed” with the crest a “dolphin embowed”,[2][23][24] these arms were confirmed by the College of Arms in 1619. There are three related branches of the Fawcett family which bear these arms with different mottos:
Fawcett of Sandford Hall: Nobilitas sola est atque unica virtus
Fawcett of Shipden Hall: Officio et fide
Fawcett of Scaleby Castle: Ne tentes aut perfice
The Fawcett family from North Yorkshire is a distinct family from the Fawcett family of Bradford (arms: “argent a lion rampant sable”) or the Fawcett families of Somerset, Ireland and Scotland.
Notable members of the family
John Fawcett (14th century): Esquire who fought in Scotland with Sir Matthew Redmayne (1324-1390, recorded in 1381) with Sir William Hilton, Lord Hilton (1355-1435, recorded in 1384) for Henry Percy Earl of Northumberland (recorded from 1383 to 1385) and for John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, Aquitaine (recorded in 1384)[11]
Robert Fawcett (15th century): Esquire who fought at the battle of Agincourt (1415) and in Harfleur with Sir William Willoughby (recorded in 1418) and Thomas Beaufort, Duke of Exeter[11]
Henry Fawcett of Over Hesleden (1562-1619): prosperous wool merchant and benefactor of the city of Norwich. Sheriff & Alderman of Norwich, recorded by the College of Heralds confirming the Fawcett arms (1619)[25]
Henry Fawcett MP of Scaleby Castle (1762-1816), shipping magnate who founded the firm Fawcett Co. of Bombay active in the East India trade. Launched the ship the Scaleby Castle[26]
The Right Honourable Henry Fawcett MP (1833 – 1884): British academic, statesman and economist. Appointed Postmaster General by William Gladstone and sworn of the Privy Council
James Malcolm Fawcett (1856): entomologist who specialised in Lepidoptera. Fawcett's clouded yellow is named for him.
Colonel John Fawcett (1803-1878): First Mayor of Brighton[27]
Dame Millicent Garrett Fawcett GBE (1847-1929): leader of the suffragette movement and writer (wife of Henry Fawcett MP).
Philippa Garrett Fawcett (1868-1948): English mathematician and educationalist. First woman to obtain the top score in the Cambridge Mathematical Tripos exams (daughter of Henry and Millicent Fawcett)
Edmund Alderson Fawcett of Sandford Hall (1816-1903): prosperous silk merchant and short horn cattle breeder, purchased Childwick Hall in Hertfordshire and later moved to Coleshill house in Amersham[21]
Edmund Alderson Sandford Fawcett CB (1868-1938): Secretary of the Ministry of National Service during WWI.[28] Supervised recruiting and manpower. Created Companion of the Bath in 1919 New Year honours. Close friend and advisor to Neville Chamberlain. Croquet Champion of the All England club at Wimbledon and Hurlingham.
Dr Hugh Aderson Fawcett (1891 - 1982): archaeologist, prolific collector and author. Reported the Mildenhall treasure to the British Museum. The discovery of the treasure and Hugh Fawcett's role is described by Roald Dahl in The Mildenhall treasure. The majority of his collection of over 7,000 ancient tools, weapons and artefacts are now in the Bristol Museum and Art Gallery[29]
Sir James Edmund Sandford Fawcett DSC QC (1913-1991): president of the European Commission for Human Rights from 1972 to 1981
