General Notes

Name Prefix:<NPFX> Sir
4th in decent from Sir Richard. Sir William Fowler of Rycot
t, Oxford(3) was born about 1400 in Sherbourne, Oxford, Eng
land. (2) It was during the Third Crusade, 1191, in which R
ichard the Lionhearted of England, Philip II of France, an
d Emperor Frederick Barbarosa took part, that Richard Fowle
r came into prominence. He took with him and maintained dur
ing this crusade to Palestine a body of British bowmen, al
l of whom were his own tenants.
The Third Crusade has been described as a "glorious but fru
itless effort for the recovery of Palestine." However, Rich
ard Fowler's services were so brilliant that King Richard b
estowed upon him the crest with our family's present coat-o
f-arms and a grant of land in Abbey-Cwyn-Hir.
According to tradition, it was during tahe seige of Acre th
at Richard Fowler blocked an attempt of the infidels to sur
prise and capture the Christian camp, and that it was thi
s brilliant stroke that brought him knighthood.
From Sir Richard Fowler, this hero of the Third Crusade, w
e are direct decendants.
Sir William Fowler of Rycot, Oxford, fouth in descent fro
m Sir Richard, was the father of the second Sir Richard Fow
ler, knighted by King Edward IV and created Chancelor of ta
he Duchy of Lancaster.