Fortune

Fortune & Grace

Of Childrey and Fernham, Berks. Of Hants.

( gules two chevrons argent ) (gules two chevrons argent,

in chief two escallops or)

The Fettiplace Family History

This curious and intriguing name is of Anglo-Norman French origin, and is derived from a nickname or an occupational surname for an Usher, an attendant specifically employed to escort or direct people to the places prepared for them in a nobleman's house, or the court. The name derives from the Anglo-Norman French phrase "fete place", meaning literally "make room". Job descriptive names, such as this, originally denoted the actual occupation of the name bearer, and gradually became hereditary.

Early examples of the surname include:-Robert Fetesplace(1227, Bedfordshire); Adam Fetteplace(1260, Oxfordshire); and Walter Feteplace(1273). The name belongs specifically to Oxfordshire, and was the name borne by the 13th century mayor of the City of Oxford, and one Edward Fetiplace was listed in the Register of the University of Oxford in 1546.

The modern surname forms range from Fettiplace, Fetteplace, Fetterplace, Phittiplace, Phettiplace and Phetteplace. The marriage of Edward Fetterplace and Elizabeth Forth was recorded in Norfolk in 1599. The Coat of Arms most associated with the name depicts two silver Chevrons on a red shield; the Crest is a green Griffin's head raised, beaked red.

The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be Thomas Faiteplace, in 1210 in the "Cartulary of Osney Abbey", Oxfordshire, during the reign of King John,1199-1216.

Surnames became necessary when Governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as the Poll Tax.

The branches of the family are now known to have spread to Australia (Samuel Fetterplace 1913) and America (Phillip Phetteplace, Born 1621 in England, living in Portsmouth Rhode Island USA 1671).

Two brothers, William and Michael Phettiplace are mentioned in the second Virginia Charter of 1609; they accompanied Capt. John Smith (saved from death by Pocahontas) on his voyage to the New World.

The Fettiplace Family from the 13th Century

Click here to go to the Genealogy Page

This data was updated on Sunday April 16th 2006

Pictures from the Past

Chastleton House, Oxfordshire.

http://www.sealedknot.org/knowbase/docs/0040_Chastleton.htm

Anne Fettiplace, painted in 1614.

Anne Fettiplace , daughter of Sir Edmund Fettiplace and Ann Alford, married Henry Jones in 1609. They lived at Chastleton House, Oxfordshire (now owned by the National Trust, and open to visitors by appointment) that had been built by Henry's father Walter.

In the south-east corner of the first floor lies the Fettiplace room, a bedroom and closet retained in its original form. As the house was still under construction at the time of the wedding, the Fettiplace Coat of Arms were incorporated in the overmantle.

The Fettiplace room in 1993.

The walls are adorned with three Flemish "Story of Jacob" Tapestries. They were woven c 1600 and have been at Chastleton since at least 1633.

The Church of St. Thomas, East Shefford.

The last resting place of Sir Thomas Fettiplace (Died abt 1442) and his wife Beatrice (died 25 Dec 1447).

Thomas either built or purchased the moated manor- house between the church and the river Lambourn, which was the residence for the family for the next hundred years. It stood on the site of Hug Ditch Court, where the hundred courts of Kintbury Eagle had long been held and was known by the same name. http://www.berkshirehistory.com/churches/eastshefford.html

The Manor House, East Shefford, demolished in 1871

The Alabaster tomb of Sir Thomas and Lady Beatrice.

Appleton Church, resting place for many of the Fettiplace's

Appleton Manor House.

Tomb of John Fettiplace, Knight, in Appleton Church.

Translation of the Memorial to Sir John Fetiplace, in St.Laurence’s Church, Appleton.

Oxfordshire.

Here good reader, lies the body of John Fetiplace, Knight, laid to rest in the hope of a blessed resurrection. None was more devoted to his country than he, nor was any more dearly beloved.

He was married twice. Of his first wife Elizabeth, daughter of Anthony Hungerford, Knight he begot four sons and three daughters. Besels, Richard, Robert, Egidius, Dorothy, Margaret, and Jane.

His eldest son Besels married Eleanor, daughter of Richard Covert. esquire, of whom he begot six sons and five daughters. Richard ,Edward, Thomas, John, William, Jane, Mary, Edith, Elizabeth, and Cecily.

Besel’ s son Richard married Eleanor, daughter of Henry Poole, Knight, of whom he begot a son John now four years old. Mary and Elizabeth died in infancy. The rest of Besel’ s children and their uncle Richard are still living. John's other children died unmarried. as did the majority of his sons by his second wife Jane, daughter of John Covert, esquire, she bore him only one daughter. the little girl Margaret whose chaste body also lies buried here.

John Fetiplace himself departed this life on the 28th day of December 1580, leaving to his descendants the notable memorial of his untarnished reputation, blameless life and patriotism. The whole neighborhood regrets his sudden and untimely death; his widow grieves for it; the poor bewail it; everyone laments it. His son Besels Fetiplace set up this monument to commemorate the duty done by one who was indeed a dutiful parent ( to whom his son was deeply indebted ) in the year of our Lord 1593.

For me Christ is gain in both life and death.

For happy times and length of days you cry.

You hope in vain, as I can testify.

I have been what you are.

You will be what I am.

The Fettiplace Monuments, St. Mary's Church, Swinbrook, Oxfordshire.

The newest of the two sets of reclining figures from Swinbrook. Erected by Sir Edmund (1654-1706) to commemorate his father Sir John, and his uncle.

The Church of St. Mary's, Swinbrook, Oxfordshire.

Pictures from the 20th Century

Samuel Fetterplace (1863-1934) about 1927 (first of the Australian descendants)

Samuel Fetterplace, my Great Grandfather, who emigrated to Australia, arriving there on 15 February 1912. He was followed by his second son Cyril Charles (Born 1897) in 1913, and his wife Rosannah together with the younger children Karl Roger and Reginald in 1914.

Samuel continued his trade as a Boot maker at Granville, a suburb of Sydney, until the death of his wife in 1927. During the Depression years of 1929 -1933, he spent some time living with his sons, first with Charles in Banksia, New South Wales, and then with Reginald who was a Teacher at the outback town of Warialda. Samuel died there in 1934.

Samuel Fetterplace (1886-1915) about 1914.

Memorium 1 Memorium 2

Samuel, my Grandfather, killed on 21 February 1915, whilst serving as a Sergeant in the 2nd Battalion Notts & Derbyshire Regiment (Sherwood Foresters). The 2nd Battalion was part of the British Expeditionary Force that landed in France in September 1914. It's first major battle was at Neuve Chapelle where it suffered 25% casualties.