User:LloydTaylor1/Pierre Morlaiux

Pierre Morlaix (1320–1380) was Sergeant to Lord Hugh deSpencer of the manor of Shipton in Oxfordshire, England. Morlaix who changed his name to Pierre Perkins was born in Morlaix, Bretagne, Normandy, France and died in Ufton Shropshire, England.

Other names
It is believed that Peter's actual name was Pierre De Morlaix, born in France. The translation of the name was Pierrekin or kin of Pierre, which later translated to Perkyns (Perkins).

Other names also mentioned are Peter Morley Perkins. Perkins is a term to denote a son of Peter thus Peter's kin which came to be Perkins. Although he was a nephew of King Edward. Pierre's name was changed to Peter Morley, hence his descendants became Peter's Kin. 1 Peter De Morley /Parkyns/

From "The Ancient History Of the Distinguished Surname *Perkins* A Essay in Two Parts by James Fulton Perkins": The last generation to use the original spelling of Morlaix in or around 1331 was the family of one Pierre de Morlaix of Shropshire, England. He appears to have been born 1312 in Bretagne, Morliax, Normandy, France and died about 1384 in Shropshire, England. His name indicates that although originally from Morlaix, Normandy, France, he was part of the Celtic/Welsh group previously mentioned who migrated to England. During this time period surnames were not in common use. Everybody was known by some personal characteristic such as what they did, who there father was or where they came from, hence Pierre de Morlaix was from Morlaix, France. Attaining a high position within English society, Pierre became the High Steward of the Hugo de Spencer Estate of Oxfordshire, England (later known as the House of Spencer, of whom Princes Diana was a daughter).

"Pierre changed his name to the English translated version "Peter Morley" when Charles V, the Black Prince of France renewed the Hundred Years War with England. This war was disrupting English shipping, compromising trade with Spain and the Netherlands and persecuting English subjects on the mainland in many ways. Because of the French victory at the Battle of Hastings, Frenchmen became persona-non-grata in England. To conceal his French origins Pierre changed his name to the English translation, Peter Morley (1312–1384).

"Unwilling to end the heritage of the deMorlaix name, when Peter Morley (Pierre de Morlaix) married Agnes Taylor, daughter of John Taylor and Margaret Welmote of Madresield, Worcestershire, England, they had a son named Henry Pierrekin (meaning "first son of Pierre"), born 1340 in Shropshire, England and died in Hillmorton, Warwickshire, England). The "kin " suffix indicates the eldest son in a family and any subsequent sons are simply called with the suffix "son", as in " Pierreson". Hence, the first son is Pierrekin and the second son of Peter (Pierre) Morley would be "Pierreson"."

Occupation
The date of Pierre's move to England from France is currently unknown, but he settled in Shropshire, England upon his arrival. He soon obtained a position with the powerful noble Hugh De Spencer, eventually becoming High Steward of the latter's Oxfordshire estate. The DeSpencer family has a storied history itself going backwards & forward from Hugh (or Hugo). Hugh's father also known as Hugh the Younger  was a favorite of King Edward II, but fell afoul of Isabella of France & Roger Mortimer, 1st Earl of March when they invaded the country and was executed by them as a traitor in 1326. After this, the family name morphed from Despenser to DeSpencer or De Spencer. By the 15th century, French surnames having fallen out of favor, the family was merely called "Spencer" and eventually produced the Princess of Wales later Lady Diana.

It is likely that Pierre de Morlaix knew members of the DeSpencer family from his days in France, since the DeSpencer family's French lands were in the Morlaix region. This would also explain Pierre's quick rise to power within the DeSpencer household. A Senschal (High Steward) was not only the trusted keeper of the household; but was not unlike the Consigliare of a Mafia don. In records, he is variously referred to as "serviens" and "sevients" to the DeSpencer. Other authors have described him as a "servus", "bailiff" or "sargent" to the DeSpencers.

Line of descendants
The Medieval Genealogy of Thomas Perkins of Hillmorton

The line of descent for Thomas Perkins, husband of Alys — is as follows (from the most recent to the earliest generation):

Thomas Perkins, husband of Alys — William Perkins and Joanna Read William Perkins, Lord Ufton and Margaret — John Perkins Henry Perkins Pierre de Morlaix (a.k.a. Peter Morley) and Agnes Taylor

From here there is disagreement about the lineage of Peter Morley. The Ford Pedigree shows him as the son of Perkin Morley. The Wenham Pedigree gives the following line of descent: 1-Pierre de Morlaix (aka Peter Morley) 2-Pierre Dedruex of Bretagne 3-Jean II, Duke of Bretagne and Beatrice, Princess of England (daughter of King Henry III of           England and Eleanor, Countess of Provence) 4-John Dedreux and Blanche Navarre 5-Pierre I (Mauclerc) Dedreux Count of Brittany and Alice DeThouars 6-Count Robert II Dedreux and Mathilde DeBougogne

Pedigree of the Lords of the Manor of Ufton, Berkshire Compiled by David Nash Ford Descent of the Perkins Family of Ufton, Brimpton & Beenham 1 Perkin Morley, Abt 1300 - +Unknown 2 Peter Perkins alias Morley, Abt 1325 - +Agnes Taylor, Abt 1330 - 3 Henry Perkins, Abt 1350 - +Unknown 4 John Perkins, Abt 1375 - +Unknown 5 William Perkins, Abt 1400 - 1449 +Margaret Surname-Unknown, Abt 1405 - 6 Thomas Perkins, Abt 1425 - 1478 +Alice Paynell, Abt 1430 - …………                                        6 William Perkins, Abt 1430 - Abt 1495 +Joanna Reade, 1434 - 7 From whom descends the Perkins’ of Hillmorton, Warwickshire.

Source: http://www.britannia.com/history/berks/gene/perkped.html

"Until about the year 1400, surnames were extremely uncommon in England, but since that time men were accustomed to add to their Christian names certain terminals, especially such as would the better distinguish them from their fathers. We find among these that of kin or kins, which Bardsley, a late English writer, thinks has all the significance of our junior, so that we have Wilkins, the son of Will; Jenkins, the son of James; Tomkins, the son of Tom; Pierrekins, the son of Pierre, etc. In the reign of Richard II. Pierre de Morlaix, or Morley, probably a Norman from the town of Morlaix, in France, was high steward of the estates of Hugo Despencer, who was at that time one of the richest and most powerful nobles of England. This Pierre de Morlaix had by his wife, Agnes Taylor, a son Henry, who, on the death of his father, was known as Henry Pierrekin, or Henry the son of Pierre. He succeeded to the stewardship, and had a son John who in time became steward and wrote his name John Perkins, and sometimes Perkyns, armiger. This John Perkins, esquire, was Lord of the manor of Madrasfield as well as steward of the Despencers, and it is believed that he was the first who bore for his arms, the fesse dancette between six billets. John Perkins, armiger, was living during the reign of Henry VI and held that position of high steward when the heiress of that famous family married the king-making Earl of Warwick. In the numerous transfers of land which he was called upon to make at the time, he sometimes signed his name Perkyns and sometimes Perkins, and some of his descendants, now living in England, sign themselves Parkyns or Parkins. This coat of arms of the Perkins family was taken from a deed of land in Ipswich, Mass., from Dr. John Perkins and wife to John Wainwright of Ipswich, and bears date of 1725, and was of right used by Dr. Perkins and his family, who were then British subjects. This is the same arms as is found upon memorial tablets in churches in England at this day…"

Source: Perkins, George A., The Genealogy of John Perkins, Salem, MA:  Salem Press Publishing & Printing Co., 1889.

Generation No. 1 ROBERT II DEDREUX1 COUNT was born 1154, and died 28 December 1218. He married MATHILDE DEBOUGOGNE. More About MATHILDE DEBOUGOGNE: Burial: 1184 Children of ROBERT COUNT and MATHILDE DEBOUGOGNE are: i. PIERRE I MAUCLERC DEDREUX COUNT2 BRITTANY, b. 1187; d. 22 June 1250

Family
Pierre Morlaix who became known as Pierre Perkins married Agnes Taylor (1352–1399). Agnes was the daughter of John Taylor (1327–1377) and Margaret Welmote (1328-xxxx). John and Margaret were the ancestors of nine U.S. Presidents. Their children were:

Heney Perkins (1325-xxxx) who married Margaret.

William Perkins (1380–1451) aka William Perkyns who married Margaret Collee (1330-xxxx).