Drogo Montacute

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General Notes

Drogo de Montague (or as it was written in Latin de Monteacuto or Montacute) was born about the year 1040. He became the trusted companion, follower and intimate friend of Robert, Earl of Moriton or Mortain, the favorite brother of William, Duke of Normandy, afterwards the Conqueror. Drogo and the Earl of Moriton were of the same age, and both entered heartily into the plans of William in his proposed expedition against England. This expedition was in active preparation in the summer of 1066 and was composed of 60,000 men and 300 ships. They landed at Pevensy upon the coast of Sussex, late in Sept., 1066, and immediately burned and scuttled their ships, that their only hope might lie in their courage and resolution, their only safety in victory. This marked the advent of the first Montague upon the shores of England, and as he marches on towards the plain near Hastings (where upon the 14th of Oct. the battle of Hastings was fought and won), we note that the kite-shaped shield of the Norman invader, its color is cirulean blue, and upon it is the full length figure of a Griffin segreant (rampant with wings spread), and painted a bright golden hue. This was the original Coat of Arms of the Montague family in England. (Footnote: A Gryphon or Griffin was an imaginary animal, devised by the ancients, and consisted of the body and tail of a lion, with the head and claws, or talons of an eagle, thus denoting great strength united with great swiftness.)

William having conquered England, and ascended the throne as William I, his followers were rewarded with large grants of land. Both his favorite brother, the Earl of Moriton, and his trusty follower, Drogo de Monteacuto, received large possessions. Drogo obtained the grant of several Manors, particularly in the County of Somerset. The original castle or seat of Drogo was at Montecute, an eminence and parish in Tintinhull, Somersetshire, four miles south of ??chester. Its ancient name appears to have been Logoresburg and was also called Bishopton. Here the Earl of Mortain built a castle and named it for his friend Drogo de Montecuto. While this was the original home of the Montagues, the seat of their barony was at Shepton Montacute, a villa at no great distance from Montacute. This parish contains the hamlets of upper and lower Shepton, Knolle and Stoney Stoke, and was held by Drogo de Monteacuto and his direct descendants until the time of Henry VIII, when Sir Thomas Montacute leaving no male issue, this estate was divided between his three sisters.

Drogo de Monteacuto also held of Robert, Earl of Moriton, the following Manors: Yarlington, Sutton Montacute, Tulbier or Torlaberie, and also held one hide of land in Montague in this county. (A hide of land was 160 acres and four hides was 640 acres made a knight's fee.) We find Drogo de Monteacuto in possession of these estates until his death, which took place about the latter end of the reign of King Henry I, about 1125. A curious fact may be recorded here, that upon the spot where the battle of Hastings was fought, William I founded an Abbey which was called Battle Abbey, and in the words of the charter, "Instituted a market to be kept there on Lord's Day free from toll," and that Anthony, Viscount Montague, a lineal descendant of Drogo, about the year 1575-1600, built a fine house there and obtained authority from Parliament to have the market changed to another day.
(Kin of Mellcene Thurman Smith, page 487)

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