Coats of Arms

 

 Coats of Arms belong to individuals not surnames. A Coat of Arms is granted to an individual and passes to his descendants in the male line.  When an individual has been granted a Coat of Arms, his sons, during the father’s lifetime, will ‘difference’ their Coat of Arms by the addition of a ‘label’.
Shown below are a number of ‘Coat of Arms’ used by various members of the Audley Family. More detailed information about these Coats of Arms and the source of my information can be found by selecting the links  to supporting information at various places within this web page.
The Verdun family held lands, that had been granted directly by the King, in Staffordshire, Warwickshire, and Leicestershire, and the Verdun family sub-let (or subinfuedated) the Manor of Aldithley (or Audley) in Staffordshire.
 Verdun Coat of Arms Audley Coat of Arms
There are several cases where a vassel (i.e. Lord Audley) used the arms of his overlord (i.e. Lord Verdun), but with the colours reversed.
{ZA5} Henry De Aldithley or Audley

{ZA9} William De Aldithley
{ZA10} Nicholas De Aldithley (1st Lord Audley of  Heleigh)
{ZA13} James De Aldithley (2nd Lord Audley of Heleigh

 {ZA27} Sir James De Audelee, the hero of the Battle of Poitiers (19th September 1356) and Founder Knight of the Garter.
&
{ZA23} Hugh Audley of Horseheath the grandfather of {ZA27}

{ZA26} Sir James of Co Gloucester
The Complete Peerage Vol 1 page 348 refers to him being styled of Gloucestershire

 James Sir Hugh of Co Gloucester
{ZA24} Hugh de Aldithley {ZA24} Hugh de Aldithley created 8th Earl of Gloucester in 1337. He became Earl of Gloucester as a result of his marriage, in 1317, to Margaret de Clare the daughter of Richard De Clare the 6th Earl of Gloucester

The depiction of the Coat of arms of {ZA27} Sir James De Aldithley KG the hero of The Battle of Poitiers and Founder Knight of the Garter as displayed at St George’s Hall Windsor.
We believe that this is the incorrect Coat of Arms for {ZA27} as this is the Coat of arms of the Barons (Lord) Audley and {ZA27} was not the Baron (Lord) Audley
We believe that {ZA27} Jane Audley used the coat of arms with a 3 bar label. (two images above)
{ZC27} James Touchet, 17th Lord Audley of Heleigh, in the County of Stafford,  7th Earl of Castlehaven and  7th Baron Orier in Ireland  {ZC4} John Touchet 6th Lord Audley of Heleigh {ZW5}Thomas, Lord Audley 1st (and last) Baron Audley of Walden KG, PC, KS

The supporting evidence for the above information is contained in the files below:

     Supporting Evidence part 1

     Supporting Evidence part 2

      Supporting Evidence for Coat of Arms of {ZA27} Sir James Audley

The  above Coat of Arms is that used by the Earls of Castlehaven, who were also Barons Audley of Heleigh and Barons of Orier.
This Coat of Arms is based on  that in Baronagium Genealogicum a copy of which can be seen on the ‘images of Coats of Arms’ page
 The above two Coats of Arms represents two alternatives used by the Thicknesse Family when they held the title of Baron Audley of Heleigh. Of the two we believe the right hand version is the correct version. The two  images are based on those shown in Burke’s Peerage 1851 and 1853 editions respectively.

For details  follow the link below.
 Supporting Evidence part 3
The Coat of Arms of the Jesson Family when they held the title of Barons Audley of Heleigh

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