Paganus Prideaux Prideaux Castle

arms of prideaux: argent, chevron sable in chief label of 3 points gules

the prideaux family well-established gentry family in devon , cornwall in middle ages onwards, seated in various branches in devon @ adeston, holbeton; thuborough, sutcombe; solden, holsworthy; netherton, farway; ashburton; nutwell, woodbury , 16th century @ prideaux place in parish of padstow in cornwall. arms of these families were: argent, chevron sable in chief label of 3 points gules, well-recorded on ancient monuments in several parish churches , elsewhere. supposed 11th century origins of family @ prideaux castle in cornwall less documented.

on 9 march 1874 college of arms granted further coat of arms prideaux: party per pale argent , gules, 3 castles counterchanged, quartered prideaux-brune family of prideaux place, accompanying pedigree being certified stephen isaacson tucker, rouge croix pursuivant (a junior officer of arms) of college. genealogy later published in vivian s visitations of cornwall.

according prideaux pedigree, paganus prideaux lord of prideaux in conqueror s time . paganus latinized form of common first-name payne . there no specific dates recorded lifetime of paganus, death date given son:

richardus prideaux dominus de prideaux obiit 1122 temp(ore) h. 1. ( richard prideaux lord of prideaux died 1122 in time of henry i).

the grant of college of arms has effect of making status of paganus prideaux official, since college agency of uk government. however, in absence of corroboration 11th century records, documents , charters, have not survived, might justifiable regard paganus being semi-legendary.

it has been claimed paganus prideaux companion of conqueror, based on college of heralds certification. however, there no mention of similar name in battle abbey roll (highly dubious source though may be), nor in other known record period.

sir john maclean in skeleton pedigree of prideaux (basing himself on work of richard polwhele, on visitations), elaborates on origin of paganus, describing him as:

paganus de prideaux vel (i.e. or ) pridias, lord of prideaux in luxulion near fowey co. cornwall, before conquest, living @ prideaux castle

this anachronism, since neither luxulion (luxulyan) nor fowey can shown have existed manors or settlements in 11th century. note, however, use of cornish form of name pridias. reference these place names imply polwhele not confusing prideaux castle , fowey, prideaux place , padstow. no mention of manor named prideaux in 11th century normandy, family might assumed have originated, has been made these sources.