This site is part of Bleach Genealogy
I
THE FIRST HISTORY OF WATTS' FAMILY OF ALEXANDER COUNTY IN ENGLAND.
GEN. PG. PG.
I I I In the year 1211 A. D. during the 13th year of King
John, there lived Sir Michael Le Fleming who bad five
children as follows:
II I I Sir Wm. Le Fleming
II I I Sir Richard Le Fleming-Had a daughter Godith Le Fleming
II I I Rev. Daniel Le Fleming
II I I Anselm Le Fleming
II I I Jordan Le Fleming
III I I Godith Le Fleming, daughter of Sir Wm. Le Fleming,
married William De Esenby. She received from her father
three carucates of land in Agarsslith and was a bene-
factress to the priory of St. Bees in Cumberland.
(No Other Record)
III I I Sir Richard Le Fleming, second son of Sir Michael
Le Fleming, called also Flandrensis and Flameng in
several places and records, received the honor of
Knighthood and seated himself at Caernavon Castle in the
manor of Beckermet which Castle and Manor with the
homage and service wards and reliefs of all the free-
holders of Frisington, Rottington, Weddekar, Kelton,
Salter, Arlochden and Burringg with the lands in Cumber-
land and the lands in Lancashire were given to him by
his father, some of which estates were, as late as 1811
enjoyed by descendents of this family, either in lineal
or collateral succession. Sir Richard died during the
term of King John, and was succeeded by his only son.
Sir John Le Fleming of Beckermet, Knight, who
conveyed to his Richard by a deed without date the land
which his father had given him in Coupland. He also
gave the patronage of the rectory of Arlochden and the
land in Great Beckermet to the Abby of Chaldine in
the 26th year of King Henry III 1241 A. D. Also, the
Advowson of the church of St. John the Baptist of Beck-
ermet was granted to this Abby which was confirmed by
Archbishop of York 1262 A. D.
Sir John died in the rein of King Henry III Cira l250
and was buried in the Abby of Caldne to which he had
been a benefactor. It is stated that the Abby contained
a very ancient statue in freestone of a man in armor
a frett of six pieces upon his shield, lying upon his
back with a sword by his side, his hands elevated in a
praying posture and his legs across which probably were
so placed from the taking upon him the cross, after
having been disposed of all his worldly goods and having
been engaged in the Holy Wars (of the Crusaders) and
which statue was placed here, most probably in the
memory of this Sir John Le Fleming.
(The following quotation is from Washington Irvins
sketch book which reads in part)("A scene in Westmini-
sters Abby, beautifully illustrative of the character of
the Crusaders, interesting to the Watts family as the
coat of arms was granted to one of them")
"I pause to contemplate a tomb on which lay the
effigy of a Knight in complete armor, large buckler was
on one arm, the hands were pressed together in suppli-
cation on the breast, the face was almost covered by
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