General Notes

Sir Hugh de Strode was the namesake of both his grandfather and great grandfather. He was born in Chalmington, Dorsetshire and was married about 1345 in Bytton, Gloucestershire to Beatrice de Bytton of that county, which is located some distance north of Dorset. They are known to have reared two sons in Chalmington. She was the daughter of Sir John de Bytton and Hawise Avis de Furneaux of Somersetshire. His wife's paternal ancestors were well known. The name of the family de Bytton (or Bitton, or Button), seems to have been adopted from the parish of Bytton, County Gloucester, England. Their arms are the same as those of the d'Amneville family, the ancient owners of the manors of Bytton and Hannam which were conveyed to that family by Henry II. These manors included almost the entire parish. Robert de Bytton, a son of Adam d'Amneville and great grandfather to Beatrice de Bytton, succeeded to the estates. In this family were three bishops: William de Bytton consecrated Bishop of Bath and Wells in 1248; William de Bytton elected Bishop of Bath and Wells in 1267; and Thomas de Bytton, Archdeacon of Wells and later Bishop of Exeter. The ancestors of Beatrice de Bytton's mother Hawise de Furneaux, were equally auspicious on both sides. They included: her grandfather Sir Mathew de Furneaux; her uncle Lord Simon de Furneaux; and gg grandfather, Lord Boteler of Wales. There is no record as to whether or not Sir Hugh participated in the grinding Hundred Years war with France, but his responsibilities as a Knight probably required it. In any event, its draining economic effects undoubtedly had an impact, as the Black Death must have also done when he was about 38 years old.